Mapping spin-polarised transitions with atomic resolution

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that inelastic electron scattering can produce atomically-resolved maps of magnetic moments by revealing spin-polarised electronic transitions, enabling new magnetic imaging techniques.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to map magnetic moments at atomic resolution using inelastic electron scattering and electron vortex states.

Findings

Evidence of asymmetric diffraction patterns indicating magnetic transitions

Feasibility of atomic-scale magnetic mapping demonstrated

Potential for creating electron vortices with orbital angular momentum

Abstract

The coupling between Angstrom-sized electron probes and spin polarised electronic transitions shows that the inelastically scattered probe is in a mixed state containing electron vortices with non-zero orbital angular momentum. These electrons create an asymmetric intensity distribution in energy filtered diffraction patterns, giving access to maps of the magnetic moments with atomic resolution. A feasibility experiment shows evidence of the predicted effect. Potential applications are column-by-column maps of magnetic ordering, and the creation of Angstrom-sized free electrons with orbital angular momentum by inelastic scattering in a thin ferromagnetic foil.