Magnetic domain imaging with a transmission X-ray microscope

The combination of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism being an element-specific local probe for the magnetic microstructure and the transmission X-ray microscope providing a spatial resolution of about 30 nm allows to image magnetic domains with a huge contrast. Special virtues of this technique are the applicability of varying magnetic fields thus allowing technologically relevant studies of the evolution and the switching behaviour of domain structures. Quantitative information on the local magnetization and in particular a separation of spin and orbital moments is possible. Results obtained at the Fe and Co L(3) edges in GdFe and PtCo multilayered systems demonstrate the potential of this new technique. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.