Magnetic Vector Imaging of Quasi-2D Magnetic Systems at the Soft X-Ray Transmission Microscope of the MISTRAL Beamline

Abstract

The ability to characterize the 3D vector magnetization configuration at the nanoscale is an unvaluable experimental asset for the nanomagnetism community to better understand and utilize magnetization phenomena. In the present contribution, we explain and demonstrate the capabilities of the Soft X-ray Transmission Microscope of the MISTRAL beamline at the ALBA Synchrotron, for the characterization of inhomogeneous three-dimensional magnetic textures within weak magnetic signal heterostructures. Different systems of N dCos/NisoFe2o and NdCos/NisoFe2o/NdCos have been fabricated to evaluate the sensitivity limits of the experimental setup. We have reconstructed the 3D magnetization of structures with an effective Fe thickness as thin as 0.4 nm. The presented results are a sound basis of the potential of the method for the 3D vector magnetic characterization of mono/few-layer 2D Van der Waals magnets and/or ultra-thin Spintronic devices at the nanoscale.