Magneto-optical Kerr microscope & magnetometer

The evico magnetics Kerr Microscope & Magnetometer systems are facilities for the visualisation of magnetic domains and magnetization processes as well as for optically recording magnetization curves on all kinds of magnetic materials, including bulk specimens like sheets or ribbons, magnetic films and multilayers, patterned films or micro- and nanowires.

They are semi-automatic, contact-less, non-destructive measuring systems using the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) as contrast mechanism.

Two microscope systems, both based on Carl Zeiss optics, are offered: Standard Microscope, and Combined High-Resolution & Overview Microscope.

The Standard Microscope is a mechanically stable facility with high-quality optics, suitable for high-resolution domain imaging with spot sizes between approx. 100 um and 5 mm and down to the resolution limit of optical microscopy (300 nm).

The Combined System combines a low-resolution overview version for larger samples with a variable spot size from approx. 30 x 30 mm to 8 x 8 mm and a high-resolution optical microscope with the same spot size and resolution ranges as the Standard Microscope.

For all microscope systems, image processing capabilities are provided for contrast enhancement. Magnetic in-plane fields of arbitrary direction can be applied. Optionally, out-of-plane magnets are available.

Magnetization loops on selected spots of the sample surface can be optically measured (MOKE-magnetometry), observing and recording the corresponding domain images at the same time.