Near field magneto-optical circular dichroism using an apertureless probe

We present an original magneto-optical Scanning Near-field-Optical Microsco pe (SNOM) configuration,, using an apertureless probe, and devoted to the c haracterization in transmission of magnetic samples. Our experimental devic e provides simultaneously the near and far field optical images, in Magneto -optical Circular Dichroism mode (MCD): and the sample surface topography. The preliminary near field images of an iron garnet test-sample reveal surf ace modifications in the magnetic domain distribution, unresolved in the fa r field image, and unrelated to the topographic features. The near field im age resolution reaches 240 nm, corresponding to the theoretically estimated size of the smallest magnetic structures.