Real-space visualization of intrinsic magnetic fields of an antiferromagnet.
Yuji KohnoTakehito SekiScott D FindlayYuichi IkuharaNaoya ShibataPublished in: Nature (2022)
Characterizing magnetic structures down to atomic dimensions is central to the design and control of nanoscale magnetism in materials and devices. However, real-space visualization of magnetic fields at such dimensions has been extremely challenging. In recent years, atomic-resolution differential phase contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy (DPC STEM) 1 has enabled direct imaging of electric field distribution even inside single atoms 2 . Here we show real-space visualization of magnetic field distribution inside antiferromagnetic haematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) using atomic-resolution DPC STEM in a magnetic-field-free environment 3 . After removing the phase-shift component due to atomic electric fields and improving the signal-to-noise ratio by unit-cell averaging, real-space visualization of the intrinsic magnetic fields in α-Fe 2 O 3 is realized. These results open a new possibility for real-space characterization of many magnetic structures.