Direct 2D spatial-coherence determination using the Fourier-analysis method: multi-parameter characterization of the P04 beamline at PETRA III.

We present a systematic 2D spatial-coherence analysis of the soft-X-ray beamline P04 at PETRA III for various beamline configurations. The influence of two different beam-defining apertures on the spatial coherence properties of the beam is discussed and optimal conditions for coherence-based experiments are found. A significant degradation of the spatial coherence in the vertical direction has been measured and sources of this degradation are identified and discussed. The Fourier-analysis method, which gives fast and simple access to the 2D spatial coherence function of the X-ray beam, is used for the experiment. Here, we exploit the charge scattering of a disordered nanodot sample allowing the use of arbitrary X-ray photon energies with this method.

Enabling time-resolved 2D spatial-coherence measurements using the Fourier-analysis method with an integrated curved-grating beam monitor.

Direct 2D spatial-coherence measurements are increasingly gaining importance at synchrotron beamlines, especially due to present and future upgrades of synchrotron facilities to diffraction-limited storage rings. We present a method to determine the 2D spatial coherence of synchrotron radiation in a direct and particularly simple way by using the Fourier-analysis method in conjunction with curved gratings. Direct photon-beam monitoring provided by a curved grating circumvents the otherwise necessary separate determination of the illuminating intensity distribution required for the Fourier-analysis method. Hence, combining these two methods allows for time-resolved spatial-coherence measurements. As a consequence, spatial-coherence degradation effects caused by beamline optics vibrations, which is one of the key issues of state-of-the-art X-ray imaging and scattering beamlines, can be identified and analyzed.

Spatial coherence determination from the Fourier analysis of a resonant soft X-ray magnetic speckle pattern.

We present a method to determine the two-dimensional spatial coherence of synchrotron radiation in the soft X-ray regime by analyzing the Fourier transform of the magnetic speckle pattern from a ferromagnetic film in a multidomain state. To corroborate the results, a Young's double-pinhole experiment has been performed. The transverse coherence lengths in vertical and horizontal direction of both approaches are in a good agreement. The method presented here is simple and gives a direct access to the coherence properties of synchrotron radiation without nanostructured test objects.

Probing the magnetic behavior of single nanodots.

In this paper, a method is presented that has the sensitivity to measure magnetization behavior of single nanostructures. It is demonstrated that the technique gives the ability to separate different signals of single nanodots from a small ensemble of structures. Our method is based on the anomalous Hall-Effect and allows for resolving signals from spherical nanoparticles with diameter down to 3.5 nm. The method gives access to magnetic properties of particles in a wide thermal and dynamical range. The potential of the technique is demonstrated utilizing particles that are created from Co films sandwiched by Pt layers.

Optimizing a low-energy electron diffraction spin-polarization analyzer for imaging of magnetic surface structures.

A newly designed scanning electron microscope with polarization analysis (SEMPA or spin-SEM) for the acquisition of magnetic images is presented. Core component is the spin detector, based on the scattering of low-energy electrons at a W(100) surface in ultrahigh vacuum. The instrument has been optimized with respect to ease of handling and efficiency. The operation and performance of a general low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) detector for SEMPA have been modeled in order to find the optimum operating parameters and to predict the obtainable image asymmetry. Based on the energy dependence of the secondary electron polarization and intensity, the detector output is simulated. For our instrument with optimized performance we demonstrate experimentally 8.6% polarization asymmetry in the domain structure of an iron whisker. This corresponds to 17.2% image contrast, in excellent agreement with the predicted simulated value. A contrast to noise ratio of 27 is achieved at 5 ms acquisition time per pixel.

Integrated setup for the fabrication and measurement of magnetoresistive nanoconstrictions in ultrahigh vacuum.

A UHV instrument is presented for in situ fabrication of nanostructures and in situ investigation of their magnetoresistance. Nanostructures of diverse shape and size are created from thin films utilizing a focused ion beam. The magnetic nanostructures are contacted via a micromanipulator, which makes it possible to address the individual structures. The system is additionally equipped with a scanning electron microscope column, which is used for damage-free navigation and control of the structuring and contacting. First magnetoresistance measurements of structures carved into a Permalloy film demonstrate the high sensitivity and the flexibility of the new setup.

Imaging the cone state of the spin reorientation transition.

The magnetization behavior and the domain pattern in remanence are studied in Co/Pt multilayers. The reorientation of magnetization from perpendicular to in plane is found to happen via the state of canted magnetization. In the transition from an easy axis to an easy plane a stable domain pattern in the in-plane magnetization components is found for Co/Pt multilayers. The analysis of the domain pattern reveals that the magnetization canting is such that all in-plane orientations of magnetization are equally occupied. The found structure is appointed to the cone state.