Weak stripe angle determination by quantitative x-ray magnetic microscopy (Conference Presentation)

Abstract

High-resolution scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) can provide quantitative access to the tilt angles of the local magnetization with respect to the surface. We use this state-of-the-art microscopy technique to probe the magnetic texture of the weak stripes texture hosted by a 180 nm thick Co40Fe40B20 layer. We report a comprehensive set of measurements of the weak stripes texture tilt angle, as well as a method that uses only a single direction x-ray beam to extract the angle. This method also extracts the spatial profile with 30 nm resolution and measures the tilt angle as a function of the applied field. Combining these informations, the macroscopic loop of magnetization as a function of applied field on a complex spin texture can be reconstructed in an unprecedented way and shows without doubt that flux closure domains exist. Beyond the characterization of the weak stripe angle, this quantitative magnetic X-ray microscopy technique can be used to study the local textures present in all materials exhibiting some circular magnetic X-ray dichroism.