Advances in magnetic microscopy

A remarkable number of methods for direct, real-space imaging in magnetic m icroscopy have been demonstrated over the past decade and a half, and the p ace of development shows no sign of slowing. Our understanding of magnetism increases as each striking new image of surface and thin-film magnetizatio n is obtained. The continued development of highperformance magnetic inform ation technologies also requires detailed study of the magnetostatics and d ynamics of microscopic magnetic structures. Both fundamental curiosity and practical interest now drive us toward innovations in magnetic microscopy f or nanometer-length scale and femtosecond temporal resolutions, which are b eyond the limits of traditional imaging techniques. This survey is intended to provide an overview of the motivations, accomplishments, and future pro spects for this discipline.