Element-specific imaging of magnetic domains at 25 nm spatial resolution using soft x-ray microscopy

The combination of magnetic circular dichroism as a magnetic contrast mechanism and a transmission x-ray microscope allows imaging of magnetic structures with lateral resolutions down to 25 nm. Results on magneto-optical Tb-25(Fe75Co25)(75) layers system with thermomagnetically written bits of various sizes were obtained at the x-ray microscope XM-1 at the Advanced Light Source in Berkeley, CA. The results prove the thermal stability of the bits in the recording process. Furthermore the capability of soft x-ray microscopy with respect to the achievable lateral resolution, element specificity and sensitivity to thin magnetic layers is demonstrated. The potential of imaging in applied magnetic fields for both out-of-plane and in-plane magnetized thin magnetic films is outlined. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.