Magnetic microstructure of the (0001) surface of hcp cobalt

摘要

The magnetic domain structure of the (0001) surface of a hcp cobalt crystal was investigated using scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis (SEMPA). This is the first observation by SEMPA of both outhyphen;ofhyphen;plane and inhyphen;plane magnetization components. The perpendicular magnetization imaged with SEMPA showed a branched structure very similar to that previously observed by magnetohyphen;optic Kerr microscopy. In addition, a previously unobserved inhyphen;plane magnetic substructure was measured. The inhyphen;plane magnetization is divided into wellhyphen;defined submicron domains that appear to reflect the sixfold symmetry of the crystal surface.