Presenter: Simon Swifter
Faculty Mentor: Benjamin McMorran
Presentation Type: Poster 41
Primary Research Area: Science
Major: Physics, Mathematics
The purpose of this study is to produce and characterize electron vortex beams created by a diffraction grating formed by a magnetization texture. In the past, electrons vortex beams have been produced using nano-fabricated physical diffraction gratings placed in a Transmission Electron Microscope. Professor Benjamin McMorran (University of Oregon) is an expert in the production of these electron beams with a spiraling wave front, or vortex beams. Our objective is to achieve the same vortex beams by instead utilizing magnetic materials as a diffraction grating. In thin samples, Iron Gadolinium (FeGd) has sinusoidal varying magnetic domains with regularly occurring fork defects that make it ideal for use in creating electron vortex beams. Our plan is to find an area where the domains in a sample of FeGd are forked appropriately, and to observe and image the diffraction patterns caused when electrons are transmitted through those points.