Lorentz microscopy on dynamically written domains in GdTbFe

In this letter a new method for the observation of thermomagnetically written domains using Lorentz electron microscopy is discussed. Domains are written in a GdTbFe layer deposited on a specially prepared silicon wafer disk, provided with Si3N4 windows. This allows direct observation by Lorentz microscopy of the magnetization patterns dynamically written under recording conditions. It is shown that by locally heating the GdTbFe layer with a continuous laser beam, combined with high-frequency switching of the magnetic field, very high storage densities can be achieved. Domains with a length of 0.25 μm in the direction of disk rotation could be written.