Simultaneous mapping of EMCD signals and crystal orientations in a transmission electron microscope

• Main Authors: Hasan Ali, Jan Rusz, Tobias Warnatz, Björgvin Hjörvarsson, Klaus Leifer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021-01-01
• Series: Scientific Reports
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81071-4

Abstract When magnetic properties are analysed in a transmission electron microscope using the technique of electron magnetic circular dichroism (EMCD), one of the critical parameters is the sample orientation. Since small orientation changes can have a strong impact on the measurement of the EMCD signal and such measurements need two separate measurements of conjugate EELS spectra, it is experimentally non-trivial to measure the EMCD signal as a function of sample orientation. Here, we have developed a methodology to simultaneously map the quantitative EMCD signals and the local orientation of the crystal. We analyse, both experimentally and by simulations, how the measured magnetic signals evolve with a change in the crystal tilt. Based on this analysis, we establish an accurate relationship between the crystal orientations and the EMCD signals. Our results demonstrate that a small variation in crystal tilt can significantly alter the strength of the EMCD signal. From an optimisation of the crystal orientation, we obtain quantitative EMCD measurements.