Micromagnetism in (001) magnetite by spin-polarized low-energy electron microscopy

TL;DR

This study uses spin-polarized low-energy electron microscopy to image and analyze magnetic domain structures in a (001) magnetite crystal, revealing domain orientations, wall types, and surface effects with high resolution.

Contribution

It demonstrates the application of spin-polarized low-energy electron microscopy to map magnetization vectors and domain wall structures in magnetite with high spatial and angular resolution.

Findings

Domains are magnetized along surface [110] directions.

Domain walls include 90° and 180° types.

Curved domain walls are interpreted as Néel-capped surface terminations.

Abstract

Spin-polarized low-energy electron microscopy was used to image a magnetite crystal with (100) surface orientation. Sets of spin-dependent images of magnetic domain patterns observed in this surface were used to map the direction of the magnetization vector with high spatial and angular resolution. We find that domains are magnetized along the surface [110] directions, and domain wall structures include 90{\deg} and 180{\deg} walls. A type of unusually curved domain walls are interpreted as N\'eel-capped surface terminations of 180{\deg} Bloch walls.