Synchrotron X-ray imaging of nanomagnetism in meteoritic metal !
AGU Fall meeting 2013, Rock Magnetism: Beyond the State-of-the-Art!
James Bryson, Claire Nichols, Julia Herrero Albillos, Florian Kronast, Tolek Tyliszczak, Simon Redfern, Gerrit van der Laan and Richard Harrison !
Introduction!
To date, nanopaleomagnetism has been studied mostly using high-resolution magnetic microscopies, for example electron holography:! Advantages!- Very-high spatial resolution (1 - 2 nm)!- Provides images of magnetic dipolar interactions !!Disadvantages!- Excessive off-line processing; inhibits measurements of
dynamic phenomena!- Sample experiences large magnetic fields during
preparation; restricts study of natural remanences!- Images magnetic induction, not magnetisation!!Poster, Today: Nanopaleomagnetism of Meteoritic Fe-Ni: the Potential
for Time-Resolved Remanence Records within the Cloudy Zone.!GP41D: Understanding Planetary and Stellar Magnetic Fields !
Bryson et al., EPSL (2014)!
X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD)!Principles of X-Ray Magnetic Dichroism Spectromicroscopy 1301
Fig. 4. Principles of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy, illustrated for the case of L edge absorption in a dband transition metal. In a magnetic metal the d valence band is split into spin-up and spin-down states with differentoccupation. Absorption of right (left) circularly polarized light mainly excites spin-up (spin-down) photoelectrons.Since spin flips are forbidden in X-ray absorption, the measured resonance intensity directly reflects the number ofempty d band states of a given spin. In XMCD spectroscopy it is equivalent whether the photon polarization is changedand the magnetization direction is kept fixed or whether the magnetization direction is changed and the photon helicityis fixed. The corresponding XMCD spectra for Fe metal44 are shown on the right for three different orientations of themagnetization directions relative to the fixed photon spin (right circular polarization).
photon spin and magnetization directions are quan-titatively related by sum rules to the size of thespin and orbital magnetic moments15,16 and to theanisotropies of the spin density and orbital mo-ment.17 XMCD spectroscopy can therefore deter-mine the sizes, the directions, and anisotropies(sizes in different directions) of the atomic magneticmoments.
2.2. XMLD spectroscopy
It is well known that linearly polarized X-rays canprobe the orientation of molecular orbitals. Thisis one of the strengths of near edge X-ray absorp-tion fine structure, (NEXAFS), spectroscopy.18 Moregenerally, polarized X-ray absorption can sense the
charge anisotropy of the valence states involved inthe core excitation process.19,20 The electric fieldvector E of the linearly polarized X-rays acts asa searchlight for the number of valence holes indifferent directions of the atomic volume or theWigner–Seitz cell. In most cases the anisotropy ofthe charge in the atomic volume is caused by ananisotropy in the bonding, i.e. by the electrostaticpotential.
A lesser-known effect, which is the basis ofXMLD spectroscopy, arises from the presence ofa magnetic anisotropy in the sample.7–10 Let usconsider the case of NiO. Because of the cubicsymmetry of the lattice the charge distributionaround the atoms is nearly spherical and no lineardichroism effect exists in the absence of magnetic
Nanomagnetism can be imaged directly by utilising circularly polaised X-rays:!⁃ XMCD intensity is a
measure of the projection the of magnetisation onto the X-ray beam direction!
⁃ Can study dynamic processes!
⁃ Element specific!
Stohr et al., Surface review and Letters (1998)!
(c) L3
L2 Fe XMCD
Figure 1. (a) Magneto-optical Faraday and Kerr e↵ect. (b) XAS/XMCD e↵ect in core-levelspectroscopy. (c) Relative contributions to the energy dependence of the Fe 2p XMCD spectrumarising from the di↵erent ground state moments for iron metal. n
h
= number of holes, ` · s =scalar part of spin-orbit interaction, L
z
= orbital moment, Sz
= spin moment and Tz
= magneticdipole term. The red and blue spectra relate to the sum rules for the orbital and spin magneticmoments, respectively. The upper spectrum shows the sum of all contributions, which resemblesthe experimental Fe L2,3 XMCD spectrum. For further details see Ref. [27].
interaction, ` · s [28, 29, 30, 31]. This sum rule for the isotropic spectrum has recently beengeneralized to electric-multipole transitions, which are important in nonresonant inelastic x-rayscattering (NIXS) [32].
Sum rules for XMCD enable us to separate the orbital moment from the spin moment[3, 33, 34]. Although in 3d transition metals the orbital moment is usually small (⇠10% ofthe total magnetic moment), it represents that part of the magnetization which is coupledto the lattice and, therefore, determines magnetic properties such as the easy-direction ofmagnetization, the magneto-crystalline anisotropy and the magnetostriction.
It is useful to put the sum rules in a more general perspective. X-ray absorption [35, 34] andphotoemission [36] provide a whole set of sum rules, relating integrated spectral intensities toground state properties . The reason that excited states (typically at 1 keV) still give informationabout ground state properties is that by integrating over all possible states of the core hole itsinfluence is averaged out. A necessary condition for this is that the core level is characterized bya good quantum number, such as the total angular momentum j. In other words, the jj mixingbetween the L3 and L2 edges must be small, which is fulfilled when the core spin-orbit splittingis much larger than the core-valence electrostatic interaction [37].
The moment transferred by the light determines which combinations of ground state operatorsare accessed. The integral over the isotropic intensity reveals the number of valence holes. Theintegral over the circular dichroism is related to the orbital magnetic moment, and the linear
4
Relative photon energy (eV)
Figure 1. (a) Magneto-optical Faraday and Kerr e↵ect. (b) XAS/XMCD e↵ect in core-levelspectroscopy. (c) Relative contributions to the energy dependence of the Fe 2p XMCD spectrumarising from the di↵erent ground state moments for iron metal. n
h
= number of holes, ` · s =scalar part of spin-orbit interaction, L
z
= orbital moment, Sz
= spin moment and Tz
= magneticdipole term. The red and blue spectra relate to the sum rules for the orbital and spin magneticmoments, respectively. The upper spectrum shows the sum of all contributions, which resemblesthe experimental Fe L2,3 XMCD spectrum. For further details see Ref. [27].
interaction, ` · s [28, 29, 30, 31]. This sum rule for the isotropic spectrum has recently beengeneralized to electric-multipole transitions, which are important in nonresonant inelastic x-rayscattering (NIXS) [32].
Sum rules for XMCD enable us to separate the orbital moment from the spin moment[3, 33, 34]. Although in 3d transition metals the orbital moment is usually small (⇠10% ofthe total magnetic moment), it represents that part of the magnetization which is coupledto the lattice and, therefore, determines magnetic properties such as the easy-direction ofmagnetization, the magneto-crystalline anisotropy and the magnetostriction.
It is useful to put the sum rules in a more general perspective. X-ray absorption [35, 34] andphotoemission [36] provide a whole set of sum rules, relating integrated spectral intensities toground state properties . The reason that excited states (typically at 1 keV) still give informationabout ground state properties is that by integrating over all possible states of the core hole itsinfluence is averaged out. A necessary condition for this is that the core level is characterized bya good quantum number, such as the total angular momentum j. In other words, the jj mixingbetween the L3 and L2 edges must be small, which is fulfilled when the core spin-orbit splittingis much larger than the core-valence electrostatic interaction [37].
The moment transferred by the light determines which combinations of ground state operatorsare accessed. The integral over the isotropic intensity reveals the number of valence holes. Theintegral over the circular dichroism is related to the orbital magnetic moment, and the linear
4
van der Laan, Journal of Physics: Conference Series (2013)!
X-ray Microscopy
1304 J. Stöhr et al.
Fig. 6. Principles of scanning X-ray microscopy, shownin (a), and two imaging X-ray microscopy techniques,shown in (b) and (c). In the scanning mode (a) a smallX-ray spot is formed by a suitable X-ray optic, for ex-ample a zone plate as shown, and the sample is scannedrelative to the X-ray focal spot. The spatial resolution isdetermined by the spot size. The intensity of the trans-mitted X-rays or the fluorescence or electron yield fromthe sample are detected as a function of the sample po-sition and thus determine the contrast in the image. Inimaging transmission X-ray microscopy, shown in (b), acondensor zone plate in conjunction with a pinhole be-fore the sample produces a monochromatic photon spoton the sample. A micro-zone-plate generates a magnifiedimage of the sample which can be viewed in real timeby an X-ray-sensitive CCD camera. The spatial resolu-tion is determined by the width of the outermost zonesin the micro-zone-plate. In imaging X-ray photoelectronmicroscopy, shown in (c), the X-rays are only moder-ately focused in order to match the field of view of anelectron microscope. Electrons emitted from the sampleare projected with magnification onto a phosphor screenand the image can be viewed in real time at video rates.The spatial resolution is determined by the electron op-tics within the microscope, the size of the aperture andthe operation voltage.
Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM)!
Advantages:!- High spatial
resolution (best 25 nm)!
- High energy resolution!
Disadvantages:!- Cannot study natural
remanences!- Long acquisitions!- Studies relatively
small areas!
Stohr et al., Surface review and Letters (1998)!
Eisebitt et al., Nature (2004)!
Out-of-plane worm-like magnetic domains – Co/Pt
bilayer at Co absorption edge!
250 nm
X-ray Microscopy
1304 J. Stöhr et al.
Fig. 6. Principles of scanning X-ray microscopy, shownin (a), and two imaging X-ray microscopy techniques,shown in (b) and (c). In the scanning mode (a) a smallX-ray spot is formed by a suitable X-ray optic, for ex-ample a zone plate as shown, and the sample is scannedrelative to the X-ray focal spot. The spatial resolution isdetermined by the spot size. The intensity of the trans-mitted X-rays or the fluorescence or electron yield fromthe sample are detected as a function of the sample po-sition and thus determine the contrast in the image. Inimaging transmission X-ray microscopy, shown in (b), acondensor zone plate in conjunction with a pinhole be-fore the sample produces a monochromatic photon spoton the sample. A micro-zone-plate generates a magnifiedimage of the sample which can be viewed in real timeby an X-ray-sensitive CCD camera. The spatial resolu-tion is determined by the width of the outermost zonesin the micro-zone-plate. In imaging X-ray photoelectronmicroscopy, shown in (c), the X-rays are only moder-ately focused in order to match the field of view of anelectron microscope. Electrons emitted from the sampleare projected with magnification onto a phosphor screenand the image can be viewed in real time at video rates.The spatial resolution is determined by the electron op-tics within the microscope, the size of the aperture andthe operation voltage.
X-ray Photoemission Electron Microscopy (XPEEM)!
Advantages:!- Can study natural
remanences!- Capable of producing
maps of all three spatial components of magnetisation!
Disadvantages:!- Lower spatial
resolution (best 40 nm)!
- Surface sensitive (top 5 - 30 nm)!
- Sample surface must be conductive (coating)!
Wu et al., Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter (2010)!
Kittel structure – Co/Cu/Py/Cu(001) trilayer at Co absorption edge!
500 nm!
X-ray !direction!
Stohr et al., Surface review and Letters (1998)!
50 µm
Kamacite!
Tetrataenite (TT) rim!
Cloudy Zone (CZ)!
Plessite!
Meteoritic Metal!
Tazewell IIICD Iron meteorite!
Widmanstatten microstructure !
The Cloudy Zone!
500 nm!TT rim! CZ!
Bryson et al., EPSL (2014)
3D spinodal nanostructure, intergrown islands of tetrataenite (FeNi) and matrix (ordered Fe3Ni)!Over time islands and matrix evolve and coarsen !
The Cloudy Zone!
500 nm!TT rim! CZ!
Bryson et al., EPSL (2014)
Tetrataenite (L10 superstructure) is an extremely hard magnetic phase and adopts one of 6 possible magnetisation directions. The proportion of the magnetisation directions depends on external fields.!
Fe-Ni metals in meteorites - terminology
Kamacitebcc
Soft ferromagnet
Taenitefcc
Soft ferromagnet(> 25 wt% Ni)
TetrataeniteOrdered FeNi (L10)Hard ferromagnetEasy axis // c
AwaruiteOrdered FeNi3
(L12)Soft
ferromagnet
???Ordered Fe3Ni
(L12)Soft
ferromagnet?
Fe-Ni metals in meteorites - terminology
Kamacitebcc
Soft ferromagnet
Taenitefcc
Soft ferromagnet(> 25 wt% Ni)
TetrataeniteOrdered FeNi (L10)Hard ferromagnetEasy axis // c
AwaruiteOrdered FeNi3
(L12)Soft
ferromagnet
???Ordered Fe3Ni
(L12)Soft
ferromagnet?
Fe-Ni metals in meteorites - terminology
Kamacitebcc
Soft ferromagnet
Taenitefcc
Soft ferromagnet(> 25 wt% Ni)
TetrataeniteOrdered FeNi (L10)Hard ferromagnetEasy axis // c
AwaruiteOrdered FeNi3
(L12)Soft
ferromagnet
???Ordered Fe3Ni
(L12)Soft
ferromagnet?
Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy
KamaciteTetrataenite
rim Cloudy zone
Easy axis 1Easy X-ray directionAxis 3
EasyAxis 2
Tazewell IIICD Iron meteorite!Magnetisation projected onto X-ray beam!
White – zero signal, easy axis 1 !Blue – positive signal, easy axis 2!Red – negative signal, easy axes 3!
1 µm!
Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory!
a b c
5 µm 1 µm 1 µm1 µm
Photoemission electron microscopy!
Easy axis 1
Easy axis 2Easy axis 3
X-ray direction
Kamacite
Tetrataenite rim
Intermediate cloudy zone
16º 35º
35º
35º
Plessite
35º
35º 35º
-35º
-35º
-35º
Easy axis 1
Easy axis 3 Easy axis 2
Coarse cloudy zone
Fine cloudy zone
Plessite
Kamacite
Magnetisation projected onto X-ray beam !Blue – positive signal, easy axis 1!
Red – negative signal, easy axes 2 and 3!
Kamacite!
Tazewell IIICD Iron meteorite!
Bryson et al., (in prep)
Tetrataenite rim!
CZ!
Plessite!
b
c
BESSY II, HZB, Berlin!
Quantitative Analysis!
Simulated nanostructure!
Bryson et al., (in prep)
In-plane magnetisation!
Out-of-plane magnetisation!
Magnetisation projection onto X-ray direction!
Projected magnetisation at experimental resolution!
Realistic PEEM image!
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0Fr
eque
ncy
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0Pixel intensity
Experimental data Simulated data
a b
c500 nm
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Freq
uenc
y
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0Pixel intensity
Experimental data Simulated data
a
b
c500 nm
25
20
15
10
5
0
Freq
uenc
y
8006004002000Cluster size (nm)
Experimental data Simulated data
500
400
300
200
100
0
Freq
uenc
y
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0Pixel intensity
Experimental data Simulated data
a
b
c
d
500 nm
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Freq
uenc
y
8006004002000Cluster size (nm)
Experimental data Simulated data
250
200
150
100
50
0
Freq
uenc
y
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0Pixel intensity
Experimental data Simulated data
a
b
c
d
500 nm
Quantitative nanopaleomagnetism
8% easy axis 1!
Simulation!
Experiment!Intermediate CZ! Fine CZ!
8% easy axis 1!
Simulation!
Experiment! Experiment!
Simulation!
Experiment!
Coarse and intermediate CZ – equal easy axis proportions!
Fine CZ – unequal easy axis proportions!Entire CZ – short range order present!
0.33:0.33:0.33 easy axis ratio! 0.38:0.31:0.31 easy axis ratio !
Coarse CZ!Simulation!
Magnetic wall!
Bryson et al., (in prep)
Quantitative natural nanopaleomagnetism
Imilac pallasite!
Experimental data!
Simulated data!
Esquel pallasite!
Experimental data!
Simulated data!
8% +ve easy axis 1!17% -ve easy axis 1!29% +ve easy axis 2!
8% -ve easy axis 2!23% +ve easy axis 3!
15% -ve easy axis 3!
14% +ve easy axis 1!0% -ve easy axis 1!32% +ve easy axis 2!
24% -ve easy axis 2!17% +ve easy axis 3!
14% -ve easy axis 3!
Quantitative natural nanopaleomagnetism
Imilac pallasite!
Experimental data!
Simulated data!
Esquel pallasite!
Experimental data!
Simulated data!
8% +ve easy axis 1!17% -ve easy axis 1!29% +ve easy axis 2!
8% -ve easy axis 2!23% +ve easy axis 3!
15% -ve easy axis 3!
14% +ve easy axis 1!0% -ve easy axis 1!
32% +ve easy axis 2!
24% -ve easy axis 2!17% +ve easy axis 3!
14% -ve easy axis 3!
Field intensity! > 3.5 µT!
Field intensity! > 1.5 µT!
8x10-3
6
4
2
0
Norm
alise
d fre
quen
cy
-0.1 0.0 0.1XMCD signal
Experimental dataSimulated data
8x10-3
6
4
2
0
Nor
mal
ised
freq
uenc
y
-0.1 0.0 0.1XMCD signal
Experimental data Simulated data
Conclusions !
Demonstrated the capabilities of synchrotron X-ray imaging in geomagnetism by studying novel nanomagnetic structures in meteoritic metal:!
- Images magnetisation directly!- High spatial resolution (best 30nm) and large field of view (15 µm)!- Sub-micron-scale paleomagnetism!
Coarse CZ in the Tazewell iron meteorite displays equal proportions of the possible easy axes, suggesting an absence of external fields during CZ formation, while in the Imilac and Esquel pallasites there are unequal proportions of the possible magnetisation directions, suggesting there were magnetised in fields of > 3.5 µT and > 1.5 µT respectively.!
!