Direct Imaging of Local Spin Orientation within Artificial Nanomagnets

作者：Konoto Makoto^*; Fukushima Akio; Matsumoto Rie; Kubota Hitoshi; Yakushiji Kay; Sawa Akihito; Yuasa Shinji; Ando Koji

来源：Applied Physics Express, 2010, 3(6): 063001.

DOI：10.1143/APEX.3.063001

We succeeded in direct imaging of local spin orientation in magnetic nanopillars by employing a spin-polarized scanning electron microscope capable of vector analysis of spin directions at nanometric resolution. High-definition pictures clearly visualized real images of spin arrangement and its local modification even in extremely small magnets forming a single domain, as well as of vortex spin configurations stabilized within relatively large magnets. Real-space analysis revealed drastic changes in size-dependent magnetic states accompanied by bistability. The successful observation demonstrates that this technique could be utilized for local and quantitative probing of spin orientation, which is crucial for spintronics.

• 出版日期2010