TY - JOUR

T1 - Switchable bi-stable multilayer magnetic probes for imaging of soft magnetic structures

AU - Wren, Thomas

AU - Puttock, Robert

AU - Gribkov, Boris

AU - Vdovichev, Sergey

AU - Kazakova, Olga

PY - 2017/8

Y1 - 2017/8

N2 - We present the use of custom-made multilayer (ML) magnetic probes in magnetic force microscopy (MFM) for imaging soft magnetic structures, i.e. nickel submicron disks of different dimensions. One of the main advantages of a custom-made ML probe is that it can be controllably switched between standard (parallel) and low moment (antiparallel) states. We demonstrate that the predicted vortex and stripe domain states in the disks are observed when using the ML probes both in the antiparallel and parallel states. However, while the phase contrast is significantly larger in the parallel state, the images are dominated by strong sample –probe interactions that obscure the image. By comparison of the stripe domain width observed by MFM with the ML probe and those expected from the Kittel model, we show that the resolution of the probe in the AP and P states is ∼30–40 nm, i.e. of the order of the probe geometrical apex and thus approaching the limit of spatial resolution. The ML probes are further compared to the commercial standard and low moment ones, showing that the quality of images obtained with the ML probe is superior to both commercial probes.

AB - We present the use of custom-made multilayer (ML) magnetic probes in magnetic force microscopy (MFM) for imaging soft magnetic structures, i.e. nickel submicron disks of different dimensions. One of the main advantages of a custom-made ML probe is that it can be controllably switched between standard (parallel) and low moment (antiparallel) states. We demonstrate that the predicted vortex and stripe domain states in the disks are observed when using the ML probes both in the antiparallel and parallel states. However, while the phase contrast is significantly larger in the parallel state, the images are dominated by strong sample –probe interactions that obscure the image. By comparison of the stripe domain width observed by MFM with the ML probe and those expected from the Kittel model, we show that the resolution of the probe in the AP and P states is ∼30–40 nm, i.e. of the order of the probe geometrical apex and thus approaching the limit of spatial resolution. The ML probes are further compared to the commercial standard and low moment ones, showing that the quality of images obtained with the ML probe is superior to both commercial probes.

KW - MFM

KW - Scanning Probe Microscopy

KW - Magnetic Probes

UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304399117301390

U2 - 10.1016/j.ultramic.2017.03.032

DO - 10.1016/j.ultramic.2017.03.032

M3 - Article

VL - 179

SP - 41

EP - 46

JO - Ultramicroscopy

JF - Ultramicroscopy

ER -