Thin Nd-Fe-B films analyzed by Lorentz and magnetic force microscopy

The influence of nano sized crystal structure on the domain structure of Nd-Fe-B films has been analyzed by means of transmission electron and scanning force microscopy. For magnetic imaging these instruments have been operated in the Lorentz/MFM mode. The samples have been prepared by pulsed laser deposition on carbon films with the substrates at about 625/spl deg/C. The multiphase composition of the films consists of the hard magnetic Nd/sub 2/Fe/sub 14/B phases as major phases and of soft magnetic phases such as Fe/sub 2/B and /spl alpha/-Fe as well as Nd/sub 2/O/sub 3/. The crystalline structure produces circular magnetic domains with diameters on the order of 100 nm which are influenced by the grain structure. Most domains cover several grains. The use of Nd-Fe-B films for data storage is suggested.