Scanning microscopy of magnetic domains using the Fe 3p core level transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect

We demonstrate the feasibility of the vacuum ultraviolet analog to visible- light magneto-optical imaging of magnetic structures using the resonantly e nhanced transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect at core level thresholds wit h incident p-polarized radiation. The advantages are element specificity an d a variable information depth. We used the scanning x-ray microscope at HA SYLAB capable of obtaining about 1 mu m resolution by means of its focusing ellipsoidal ring mirror. The p-polarized component of the reflected light was selected using multilayer reflection at an additional plane mirror down stream to the sample. Micrographs of the optical reflectivity were taken in the vicinity of the Fe 3p core level threshold at 53.7 and 56.5 eV photon energy where the magneto-optical effect is of opposite sign. Magnetic domai ns are visible in the difference of both recorded images. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)78808-0].