Microscopy of mesoscopic ferromagnetic systems with slow electrons

Mesoscopic ferromagnetic systems are not only of practical interest for high density recording and storage devices but also as models of cooperative phenomena in low dimensions. The magnetization distribution in such systems is studied in this paper by X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism Photo Emission Microscopy (XMCDPEEM), using thin rectangular and ring-shaped patterned Co films and by Spin-Polarized Low Energy Electron Microscopy (SPLEEM), using epitaxial Fe nanostructures. Copyright (C) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.