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arXiv · 1111.4915

Mapping spin-polarised transitions with atomic resolution

Peter Schattschneider·Bernhard Schaffer·Inga Ennen·Johan Verbeeck
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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.

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Peter Schattschneider, Bernhard Schaffer, Inga Ennen, Johan Verbeeck. 2011-11-21. Mapping spin-polarised transitions with atomic resolution. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.85.134422

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