Nanoscal Magnetostrictive Response in a Thin Film Owing to a Local Magnetic Field

Scanning probe microscope experiments are presented in which thin magnetostrictive films deposited on top of micrometer-sized magnetic write heads as used in magnetic hard disk drives are used to visualize their emanating magnetic field. The magnetostrictive expansion owing to magnetic writing fields is discussed together with transduction mechanisms leading to the vertical and lateral contrast observed. Magnetostriction effects in single magnetic domains have been observed. Experimental results verify that the techniques described have a lateral resolution of at least 100 nm.