Magnetic imaging with a Zernike-type phase plate in a transmission electron microscope

Abstract

We demonstrate the use of a hole-free phase plate (HFPP) for magnetic imaging in transmission electron microscopy by mapping the domain structure in PrDyFeB samples. The HFPP, a Zernike-like imaging method, allows for detecting magnetic signals in-focus to correlate the sample crystal structure and defects with the local magnetization topography, and to evidence stray fields protruding from the sample. Experimental and simulated results are shown and are compared with conventional Fresnel (out-of-focus) images without a phase plate. A key advantage of HFPP imaging is that the technique is free from the reference wave distortion from long-range fields affecting electron holography.