Variable temperature and ex situ spin-polarized low-energy electron microscope

The spin-polarized low-energy electron microscope (SPLEEM) at NCEM has been utilized to examine the magnetic domain formation in thin films of Co grown on Au(lll) single-crystal surfaces. A new, low-temperature liquid nitrogen cooling system has been added to this instrument, achieving sample temperatures over a wide range (115-2300 K) and enabling the first SPLEEM images to be obtained at below room temperature. Furthermore, the deposition of protective, nonmagnetic capping layers on top of the Co/Au(111) surface is observed to have little effect on the domain shape except for decreasing magnetic contrast due to the attenuation of the diffracted electrons from the Co layer. The magnetic domain contrast is nearly completely restored upon thinning the capping layers by ion bombardment enabling the examination of ex situ prepared samples. (C) 2000 American Vacuum Society. [S0734-2101(00)01204-5].