Time resolved imaging of magnetic nanostructures with magnetic transmission soft X-ray microscopy

• Applicant: Dr. Peter Fischer
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2002 to 2006
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5374006

Magnetic transmission soft X-ray microscopy is a novel technique using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism as large contrast mechanism to image magnetic domain structures in ferromagnetic systems. It features element-specificity, a lateral resolution down to 25 nm and a high sensitivity to thin magnetic layers. Both systems with in-plane and out-of-plane magnetization can be recorded within varying external magnetic fields. Thus the switching behaviour of individual layers in magnetic elements can be addressed. The goal of this proposal is to implement the time structure of the synchrotron radiation light source by a stroboscopic imaging with a pump-probe technique. Thus dynamical processes in magnetically ordered multilayered and nanostructured elements can be studied. This will both provide new insight into fundamental questions but moreover in a technological context. The results obtained will be complimentary to other magnetic imaging techniques and will serve as high resolution experimental input to numerical simulations of fast switching processes.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1133: Ultrafast magnetization processes
• Participating Persons: Professorin Dr. Gisela Schütz-Gmeineder; Dr. Hermann Stoll