Magnetostriction measurements with atomic force microscopy: a novel approach

We present a new method for measuring magnetostriction with an atomic force microscope, adapted for the application of magnetic fields. We can measure magnetoclastic shifts as small as 5 x 10(-8) in, and since the technique is not only restricted to wires, we can also measure samples with linear dimensions < 100 mum in any direction. The experiment allows us to visualise, for the first time in an elegant and educational manner, how the magnetoelastic changes in the sample's length take place when the magnetic field is applied. We have, furthermore, made applications to wires of Ni, permalloy, commercial Cu wires and films, pure Cu, pure Pt that are in agreement with accepted literature, proving the validity of this method. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.