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Use of magneto-optic Kerr effect for advanced magnetic imaging and domain wall real time propagation velocity measurements
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Conference papersRésumé
Kerr imaging has been a powerful tool to view magnetic static structures, to study magnetic domain wall propagation or to get a hysteresis loop. We present here how Kerr effect can be used to go further. First, up to now, propagation of magnetic domain wall was studied by taking a first Kerr picture, then a magnetic field pulse was applied. At the end a second picture is acquired and the movement during the pulse is deduced. This way, the state before and after the pulse is known, but what is really happening during the pulse? Using a laser beam focused on a small spot and looking real time at Kerr signal, it becomes possible to get some informations about it. Another limiting property of Kerr imaging is the depth probed by the light: a few nm. So, in case of quite thick films, what is happening below is unknown. However, it is possible to some informations using another type of magnetic microscopy. For example, using NV microscopy, one gets a picture of the stray field created by the sample, for which deep magnetic structures can be meaningful. Combining Kerr and NV microscopy, it becomes possible to get a better picture of what is happening in the thickness of the sample.