Mapping spin-polarised transitions with atomic resolution
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
2013-05-30 v2
Abstract
The coupling between Angstrom-sized electron probes and spin polarised electronic transitions shows that the inelastically scattered probe is in a mixed state containing electron vortices with non-zero orbital angular momentum. These electrons create an asymmetric intensity distribution in energy filtered diffraction patterns, giving access to maps of the magnetic moments with atomic resolution. A feasibility experiment shows evidence of the predicted effect. Potential applications are column-by-column maps of magnetic ordering, and the creation of Angstrom-sized free electrons with orbital angular momentum by inelastic scattering in a thin ferromagnetic foil.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1111.4915,
title = {Mapping spin-polarised transitions with atomic resolution},
author = {Peter Schattschneider and Bernhard Schaffer and Inga Ennen and Johan Verbeeck},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1111.4915},
year = {2013}
}