Quantitative magnetization measurements on nanometer ferromagnetic cobalt wires using electron holography

Abstract

The magnetic remanent states of 4-nm-diameter single-crystalline Co nanowires are characterized using off-axis electron holography. Measurements are obtained from isolated wires, as well as from bundles of wires and “multibranch” wires joined by 15-nm-diameter nodes of Co. The fraction of magnetically active moments in a single 4-nm-diameter wire is measured to be 1.01±0.19, indicating that, to within experimental error, the wire is fully magnetized throughout its diameter.