ISSN:
1089-7550
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Very little is currently known about domains and domain walls in ultrathin ferromagnetic films, i.e., films that are a few atomic layers to a few tens of layers thick. A major experimental difficulty is that these films must be grown and examined in situ with strict control over their atomic structure and elemental composition. Recently, scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis (SEMPA) has been used to image domains in Fe1and Co2 films that were only a few monolayers thick. The structure and composition of the films were monitored during growth using RHEED (reflection high energy electron diffraction) and Auger electron spectroscopy. The magnetic structure of these films was then investigated in situ using SEMPA. SEMPA directly images the magnetization by measuring the spin polarization of secondary electrons emitted in the scanning electron microscope. This combination of surface sensitive techniques allows one to study the domain structure, anisotropy and magnetization of the films as a function of various growth parameters, such as, thickness, substrate roughness, and temperature.〈ks〉
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.347778
