Imaging the in-plane magnetization in a Co microstructure by Fourier transform holography

We report on experiments using Fourier transform holography to image the in-plane magnetization of a magnetic microstructure. Magnetic sensitivity is achieved via the x-ray magnetic circular dichroism effect by recording holograms in transmission at off-normal incidence. The reference beam is defined by a narrow hole milled at an inclined angle into the opaque mask. We present magnetic domain images of an in-plane magnetized cobalt element with a size of 2 mu m x 2 mu m x 20 nm. The domain pattern shows a multi-vortex state that deviates from the simple Landau ground state. (C)2010 Optical Society of America