Observations of oblique magnetic domain walls in nickel single crystals by X-ray topography

Abstract Unusual band images observed by dynamical diffraction X-ray topography in nickel single crystals are elucidated by a model of very thin magnetic domains which extend obliquely through the thickness of the crystal. These thin domains have a magnetization direction which would cause free-pole formation on the crystal surface. In order to avoid these free poles, it is assumed that the magnetization direction of these thin domains rotates away from (111) near the crystal surface. This rotation would cause curvature of the magnetic domain walls near the crystal surface. In this work such curvature is detected in the topographs by differences in the atomic displacement associated with the domain wall near the crystal surfaces and in the interior.