Transmission X-ray microscopy using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (X-MCD) was used as a large, element-specific and quantitative magnetic contrast mechanism in the soft X-ray microscopes at BESSY I (Berlin) and the ALS (Berkeley). The present state and potential of magnetic transmission X-ray microscopy (MTXM) is outlined. The possibility to record images in varying magnetic fields and the high spatial resolution down to 25 nm were used to image out-of-plane magnetized (4 ?Fe / 4 ?Gd)×75 systems. Magnetic domains could be studied in arrays of circular and square dots with lateral dimensions down to 180 nm. Hysteresis loops of individual dots were deduced using the direct proportionality of the X-MCD contrast to the sample magnetization. Images of a 3 nmCr / 50 nmFe / 6 nmCr film demonstrate for the first time that MTXM is also able to observe in-plane magnetized domains. In the future the possible applications of MTXM will be extended with regard to the strength of the external field, the available energy range and the sample conditions by building a dedicated transmission X-ray microscope for magnetic imaging at BESSY II. Received: 22 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 July 2001 / Published online: 5 October 2001     

Study of buried Si(1 1 1)-5 × 2-Au by surface X-ray diffraction

The structure of buried Si(1 1 1)-5 × 2-Au capped with amorphous Si was investigated using surface X-ray diffraction. It was found that the 5 × 2 structural periodicity is kept under the amorphous Si from the in-plane measurement. Furthermore, the intensity variation along the fractional-order rod indicates that Au atoms are located almost on the same plane.     

Application of interference microscopy to the study of hologram build-up in LiNbO3 crystals

Interference microscopy was applied to direct microscopic observation of temporal evolution of phase holograms in LiNbO₃:Fe photorefractive crystals. First a hologram was recorded in the sample, and diffraction efficiency was monitored during hologram build-up using inactinic laser light. Thus kinetics of hologram build-up could be determined. The initial hologram was erased using white light. Then a series of write-erase cycles were performed with increasing exposure times. Holograms were observed by interference microscope after each exposure. The time elapsed between the exposure and the microscopic observation was negligible compared to the relaxation time of the hologram. The obtained temporal evolution of the grating profile gives a deeper insight into the physical mechanism of hologram formation in photorefractive materials than simple diffraction efficiency measurements. A congruently grown sample of LiNbO₃ doped with 10⁻³ mol/mol Fe in melting was studied by this method. Sample thickness was set to 300 μm to allow correct microscopic observation. Plane-wave holograms were recorded in the samples using an Ar-ion laser at λ = 488.0 nm of grating constants of 3, 6.5 and 8.8 μm.     

Quantitative measurement of Q species in silicate and borosilicate glasses using Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy has been used to measure the fraction of tetrahedral silicate units connected at three corners into the network (Q³) in binary lithium silicate glasses and also in the more complex borosilicate glasses used for waste immobilization. Agreement within experimental error was obtained with ²⁹Si MAS NMR measurements of the same samples. Raman provides an alternative method of structural determination for silicon-containing glasses with a high content of paramagnetic species where NMR loses resolution. Analysis was performed on borosilicate glasses containing up to 11.98 mol% Fe₂O₃ and the Q³ values obtained by Raman spectroscopy agree within error with the published ²⁹Si NMR results from borosilicate glasses containing the equivalent quantity of Al₂O₃.     

Magnetic domain structure in Fe78.8−xCoxCu0.6Nb2.6Si9B9 nanocrystalline alloys studied by Lorentz microscopy

The magnetic domain structures of Fe_78.8−xCo_xCu_0.6Nb_2.6Si₉B₉ (x=0, 20, 40, 60) alloys are investigated by Lorentz microscopy coupled with the focused ion beam method. The specimen prepared using the FIB method is found to have a considerably more uniform thickness compared to that prepared using the ion-milling method. In Fe_38.8Co₄₀Cu_0.6Nb_2.6Si₉B₉ and Fe_18.8Co₆₀Cu_0.6Nb_2.6Si₉B₉ alloys, 180° domain walls extending in the direction of the induced magnetic anisotropy are observed. Analysis with Lorentz microscopy reveals that the width of the magnetic domains decreases with an increase in the cobalt content or the induced magnetic anisotropy K_u, that is, the domain width d is proportional to the induced magnetic anisotropy (K_u)^−1/4. On the other hand, in the in situ Lorentz microscopy observation as a function of temperature, magnetic ripple structures are found to appear in a localized area due to the fluctuation of magnetization vectors from 423 K. It is observed that the induced magnetic anisotropy caused by the applied magnetic field at 803 K is not suppressed by the magnetic ripple structures observed at 423–443 K.     

Monte Carlo simulation of the reorientation transition in Heisenberg model with dipole interactions

The change of magnetic states in ultrathin films with temperature have been simulated by Monte Carlo method. A Heisenberg model with long-range dipole interactions was adopted in our calculations. The results were qualitatively in good agreement with the experimental phenomena. That is at low temperatures the magnetization is perpendicular to the plane, and at higher temperatures but below the Curie point, the magnetization is mostly within the plane. In between these two regions, the magnetization seems to be suppressed. The simulations show that the loss of magnetization is a consequence of the special magnetic states in which the local domains orientations are reverse with the neighbor ones.     

X-rays from radiative electron capture of highly-charged heavy ions in an electron cooler

The x-ray spectra induced by spontaneous capture of free cooling electrons into bare and hydrogenlike heavy ions have been observed. Au⁷⁸⁺, Au⁷⁹⁺ and U⁹¹⁺ ions were stored in the storage ring ESR at velocities between 60% and 65% of the velocity of light and the x rays were measured in coincidence with stored particles having captured one electron in the electron cooler. The lines observed can be attributed to the direct transition of cooling electrons into theK shell of the projectile and to the characteristicL K transitions. The latter are mainly induced by capture into higher shells and subsequent cascade transitions. The measurements are compared to detailed calculations within the framework of presently available theories. Although the relative structure of the measured spectra is in fair agreement with the theoretical prediction, the total charge-changing rate in the electron cooler is about a factor of three smaller than expected.     

Spin glass behavior upon diluting frustrated magnets and spin liquids: a Bethe-Peierls treatment

A Bethe-Peierls treatment to dilution in frustrated magnets and spin liquids is given. A spin glass phase is present at low temperatures and close to the percolation point as soon as frustration takes a finite value in the dilute magnet model; the spin glass phase is reentrant inside the ferromagnetic phase. An extension of the model is given, in which the spin glass/ferromagnet phase boundary is shown not to reenter inside the ferromagnetic phase asymptotically close to the tricritical point whereas it has a turning point at lower temperatures. We conjecture similar phase diagrams to exist in finite dimensional models not constraint by a Nishimori's line. We increase frustration to study the effect of dilution in a spin liquid state. This provides a “minimal” ordering by disorder from an Ising paramagnet to an Ising spin glass. Received 9 April 1999 and Received in final form 27 September 1999     

Optimizing the growth of CoSi2 film with oxide-mediated CoSi2 template by silicon cap layer

Applying both template and Si cap technology, we achieved the epitaxial growth of CoSi₂ directly on Si(1 0 0) substrate by rapid thermal annealing (RTA). The crystal quality of CoSi₂ film is found to be significantly dependent on the Si cap thickness. In our work, a good-quality CoSi₂ film with a minimum of χ_min~11.6% and 3.3 Ω/square was obtained as a 15 nm Co with a subsequent 15 nm Si cap layer is deposited on an oxide-mediated CoSi₂ template and followed by an anneal at 1050 °C under N₂ protection; whereas too thin or thick Si cap layer will deteriorate the crystalline quality of CoSi₂. These experimental results are discussed in combination with the simulation of Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and X-ray reflectivity.