Magnetic imaging of a buried SmCo layer in a spring magnet
Images of the magnetic domain structure in a 1600 Aa thick buried SmCo layer of a Fe/SmCo spring magnet were obtained using a newly developed x-ray microprobe. This probe combines circularly polarizing optics with a microfocusing Fresnel zone plate to obtain a highly polarized, small cross-section x-ray beam in the energy range between 5 and 10 keV. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism was used to provide contrast between different magnetic domains as a function of the externally applied magnetic field. The obtained images show domain walls not oriented parallel to the external field but correlated with structural features in the sample. A plausible explanation is pinning of domain walls at stacking faults in the layer. The range of external fields for which the magnetic reorientation of a particular microscopic domain occurred was much smaller than the range measured for a macroscopic hysteresis loop, indicating that the reorientation is due to growth of domains developed at local nucleation points. {copyright} 2001 American Institute of Physics.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 40203991
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 89, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1360391; Othernumber: JAPIAU000089000011007165000001; 436111MMM; PBD: 1 Jun 2001; ISSN 0021-8979
- Publisher:
- The American Physical Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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