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From Bloch to Néel: Anisotropy-dependent Domain-Wall Character in FePd Thin Films

Annika Stellhorn, Alicia Backs, Ekaterina Klyushina, Connie Bednarski-Meinke, Steffen Tober, Denis Vasiukov, Oskar Stepancic, Vítor Alexandre de Oliveira Lima, Lukas Aniansson, Paul Steadman, Manuel Valvidares, Jörg Schwenke, Claudiu Bulbucan, Elizabeth Blackburn

Featured July 8, 2026

Original Paper

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Simply

By shining X-rays at different angles, scientists directly saw how tiny magnetic boundaries inside thin films change from a mixed type near the surface to a pure type deeper down, which was a big surprise for these strong magnets.

In depth
The study experimentally investigates how the character of magnetic domain walls (Bloch vs. Néel type) changes with depth in FePd thin films, which exhibit high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Using angular-dependent circular dichroism X-ray resonant magnetic scattering (CD-XRMS), the authors directly observe a smooth transition from a hybrid Bloch-Néel chirality near the surface to a purely Néel-type structure deeper within one film, challenging conventional expectations for high-anisotropy materials.

Key Takeaways

  • 1
    The paper experimentally demonstrates depth-dependent domain wall chirality in FePd thin films using angular-dependent CD-XRMS, a technique that allows probing different depths.
  • 2
    It reveals an unexpected hybrid Bloch-Néel to pure Néel transition with depth in a high-PMA FePd film, and purely Néel walls in another, challenging the assumption that high PMA primarily leads to Bloch walls.
  • 3
    The findings highlight the crucial role of long-range structural order and subtle microstructural differences in determining complex chiral spin textures, impacting spintronic device design.

Conceptual Flow

HIGH LEVEL
1
Methodology: Seeing Magnetic Patterns Inside

The scientists used special X-rays that change how they scatter depending on the tiny magnetic swirls inside the film, allowing them to 'see' different depths.

X-ray Beam
Thin Magnetic Film
Scatter and Detect
Magnetic Pattern Signal
2
Results: Unexpected Magnetic Swirls

They found that in one film, the magnetic swirls changed from a mix to a single type as they looked deeper, which was not what was expected for such strong magnets.

Top Layer Swirls
Middle Layer Swirls
Bottom Layer Swirls
Reveal Depth Change
Mixed Swirls
Pure Swirls