A spin rotator for spin-polarized scanning electron microscopy

A Wien filter, which is a common energy analyzer, was modified as a spin rotator for use in a spin-polarized scanning electron microscope. By switching the spin rotator on and off, magnetic domain images of all three magnetization vectors can be produced in one scan. The electrodes and the magnetic pole pieces were specially designed by using a three-dimensional computer simulation for electric and magnetic fields, electron trajectories, and spin rotation; the broad beam of the secondary electrons passes through to the spin detector with a 90 deg. rotation. The structure is simple with only two electrodes that have hyperbolically curved surfaces to create a stigmatic focusing effect, while the surfaces of the magnetic pole pieces are flat to enable a uniform rotation of all electron spins. The performance was tested and confirmed to be effective by observing the magnetic domain structures of Fe(001) with in-surface-plane magnetization and a TbFeCo magneto-optical medium with surface normal magnetization