Coherent x-ray magnetic imaging with 5 nm resolution

Abstract

Soft x-ray microscopy plays an important role in modern spintronics. However, the achievable resolution of most x-ray magnetic imaging experiments limits access to fundamental and technologically relevant length scales in the sub-10 nm regime. Here, we demonstrate x-ray magnetic microscopy with 5 nm resolution by combining holography-assisted coherent diffractive imaging with heterodyne amplification of the weak magnetic signal. The gain in resolution and contrast makes magnetic pinning sites visible and allows to measure the local width of domain walls. The ability to detect and map such properties with photons opens new horizons for element-specific, time-resolved, and operando research on magnetic materials and beyond.