Magnetic Domain Imaging with Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy

Abstract

An apparatus combining various scanning probe microscopy techniques is presented. It is dedicated to near-field magneto-optical (MO) and optical transmission imaging, and simultaneously gives topographical information. This MO scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM), working in transmission-collection mode, measures the magneto-optical circular dichroism (MOCD) effect of the samples, using a tapered and metal-coated optical fiber probe. The performance of the apparatus is mainly determined by this fiber probe. Resolution of about 200 nm was obtained on 200 Å thick Co/Pt and CoNi/Pt multilayer samples. MOCD-SNOM imaging artifacts are presented and discussed.