Magnetic domains seen by magneto-optical microscopy - an overview
The knowledge of the magnetic domain behavior in ferro- and ferrimagnetic materials is of great importance to comprehend the magnetization reversal behavior in magnetic bulk and film structures from a fundamental as well as from an application point of view. By this, magnetic domain imaging provides direct access to the effective magnetic properties of materials from macro- to nanoscale.
The observation of magnetic domains by magneto-optical microscopy, mostly based on the magneto-optical Kerr effect, is one of the most prominent techniques for the visualization of the distribution of magnetization within magnetic materials. Being an optical method, it enables the visualization of magnetization behavior in magnetic materials on fast timescales. By this high resolution and time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect microscopy sheds light on relevant magnetization changes due to domain nucleation, domain wall resonances, and spin-wave phenomena, just to name a few.
After a general introduction to various aspects of magnetic domain formation and imaging, I will provide an overview of magneto-dynamical effects from magnetic boundaries and domain walls. Aspects of current induced Skyrmion swarm motion to spin-wave to acoustic wave generation will be addressed. From an application viewpoint, I will discuss the relevance of the physical domain and domain wall processes for various magnetic sensor concepts, including magnetoelectric composite sensors.
Zoom Meeting Details - contact Sadie Spicer, sco3@psu.edu.