6533b859fe1ef96bd12b80b1

RESEARCH PRODUCT

A spatially resolved investigation of the local, micro-magnetic domain structure of single and polycrystalline Co2FeSi

subject

description

The Heusler compound Co2FeSi is a promising material for magneto-electronic devices. With a Curie temperature of 1100?K and a saturation magnetization of 6?Bohr magnetons and a high spin polarization at the Fermi edge it fulfils the essential requirements for magnetic sensors or spin valve structures. An essential feature for such devices is the micro-magnetic domain structure. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism?photo emission electron microscopy has been used for a direct observation of the domain structure of single- and polycrystalline samples. The polycrystalline material exhibits a micro-magnetic ripple structure, as it is well known for pure Co and other polycrystalline Heusler compounds. The (1?1?0)-oriented surface of the single crystal exhibits a multi-domain pattern characteristic for systems with an easy axis that might point out of the surface. Asymmetric 180? Bloch walls with changing sense of rotation are observed between oppositely magnetized domains. Spin polarized photo emission from a single domain of the single crystal shows a spin polarization of 16% at the Fermi energy and up to 35% in the d-bands, at room temperature.