X-ray magnetic circular dichroism photoemission electron microscopy of focused ion beam-induced magnetic patterns on iron–rhodium surfaces

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Vol. 302; pp. 51 - 54
• Main Authors: Tohki, Atsushi, Aikoh, Kazuma, Shinoda, Ryoichi, Ohkochi, Takuo, Kotsugi, Masato, Nakamura, Tetsuya, Kinoshita, Toyohiko, Iwase, Akihiro, Matsui, Toshiyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2013
• Subjects: FeRh thin film; First order magnetic phase transition; Focused ion beam irradiation; Ion-beam irradiation; Magnetic domain; Magnetic patterning; First order magnetic phase transition; Ion-beam irradiation; Focused ion beam irradiation; Magnetic domain; FeRh thin film; Magnetic patterning
• ISSN: 0168-583X; 1872-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2013.03.028

Iron–rhodium (FeRh) thin films were irradiated with a 30keVGa ion beam using a focused ion beam system to produce micrometer scale ferromagnetic square dot arrays. Two-dimensional magnetic square dot arrays with dimensions of 30×30, 10×10, and 5×5μm were successfully produced on the FeRh surface, which was confirmed by magnetic force microscopy. The results of photoemission electron microscopy combined with X-ray magnetic circular dichroism revealed that the magnetization of the magnetic square dots could be controlled by changing the amount of irradiation. The magnetic domain structure of the magnetic square dots with sides of 5–30μm was found to be a single domain structure, which was possibly influenced by the interaction between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interfaces.