Spin-Polarized Scanning Electron Microscope for Analysis of Complicated Magnetic Domain Structures

A previously reported spin-polarized scanning electron microscope has been improved to form a magnetic domain image using any magnetization vector component in the sample surface plane. This apparatus makes it possible to observe the magnetic domain structure in finer contrast. In addition, the magnetization directions in the sample surface can alsobe determined semi-quantitatively by inspecting two images obtained from the mutually orthogonal components of the magnetization vector.