Characterization of individual L1/sub 0/ FePt nanoparticles

The long-range order parameter of [001]-oriented FePt L1/sub 0/ nanoparticles has been determined by measurement of convergent-beam electron diffraction (CBED) intensities of single particles using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and comparison of the measured intensities to simulations of diffracted-beam intensities. The nanoparticles were fabricated by co-sputtering high-purity Fe and Pt targets onto SiO/sub 2/-Si substrates and annealing the deposited material.