Three-dimensional magnetic flux-closure patterns in mesoscopic Fe islands

TL;DR

This study investigates three-dimensional magnetization structures in mesoscopic Fe/Mo(110) islands using XMCD-PEEM and micromagnetic simulations, revealing size and thickness effects on magnetic patterns.

Contribution

It provides detailed experimental and simulation insights into 3D magnetization in mesoscopic Fe islands, highlighting size and thickness influences.

Findings

Magnetization distributions are asymmetric at the surface.

Micromagnetic simulations match experimental observations.

Particle size and thickness primarily influence magnetization patterns.

Abstract

We have investigated three-dimensional magnetization structures in numerous mesoscopic Fe/Mo(110) islands by means of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism combined with photoemission electron microscopy (XMCD-PEEM). The particles are epitaxial islands with an elongated hexagonal shape with length of up to 2.5 micrometer and thickness of up to 250 nm. The XMCD-PEEM studies reveal asymmetric magnetization distributions at the surface of these particles. Micromagnetic simulations are in excellent agreement with the observed magnetic structures and provide information on the internal structure of the magnetization which is not accessible in the experiment. It is shown that the magnetization is influenced mostly by the particle size and thickness rather than by the details of its shape. Hence, these hexagonal samples can be regarded as model systems for the study of the magnetization in thick, mesoscopic ferromagnets.