X-ray photoemission electron microscopy study of the in-plane spin reorientation transitions in epitaxial Fe films on W(110)

The thickness- and temperature-induced in-plane spin reorientation transitions (SRT) in epitaxial Fe films on a W(110) single crystal were investigated using X-ray photoemission electron microscopy. We present the real time evolution of the magnetisation switching, and we demonstrate differences between the two transition mechanisms. Whereas both the transitions involve the magnetic domain wall motion, the temperature SRT is additionally accompanied by nucleation of domains. Before and after the thickness-induced SRTs, the sample is in the almost single domain state, which is not the case for the final magnetic configuration after the temperature-induced transition. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.