Magnetic force microscope and magnetic field observation method using same

A magnetic force microscope that measures a magnetic field distribution on the surface of a specimen by use of a ferromagnetic probe, the magnetic force microscope comprising:

• a relative transfer unit that transfers the ferromagnetic probe in the in-plane directions as well as a vertical direction against the surface of the specimen;
• an exciter that causes vibration of the probe;
• a displacement detector that detects a displacement of a cantilever;
• a magnetic-field impress-unit that impresses a magnetic field onto the probe;
• a magnetic-field detector that detects a magnetic-field from the magnetic-field impress-unit;
• a storage unit that stores a relationship between an input signal to the magnetic-field impress-unit and an output signal of the magnetic-field detector;
• an amplitude detector that detects an amplitude of a frequency component of a signal of the exciter from an output signal of the displacement detector;
• a first control system that controls the relative transfer unit in the vertical direction such that an output from the amplitude detector is at a given value;
• a phase comparator that compares the phase of the output signal of the displacement detector with the phase of an excitation signal of the exciter;
• a second control system that controls the magnetic-field impress-unit such that an output of the phase comparator is at a given value;
• a converter that converts an output of the second control system into a magnetic field signal by making use of the relationship between the input signal to the magnetic-field impress-unit and the output signal of the magnetic-field detector, stored in the storage unit;
• a controller that acquires an output of the first control system, and an output of the converter while transferring the relative transfer unit in the in-plane directions, and
• a display device that displays the output of the first control system, and the output of the converter, acquired in the controller, respectively, in such a way as to correspond to respective positions in the in-plane directions of the relative transfer unit.

A magnetic field observation method using a magnetic force microscope provided with a unit that measures an undulation distribution as well as a magnetic field distribution on the surface of a magnetic specimen, the magnetic force microscope further including a cantilever, a probe provided at the tip of the cantilever, at least part of the probe including a magnetized material, a displacement detector that detects a displacement of the cantilever, a magnetic-field impress-unit that impresses a magnetic field onto the probe, a specimen carrier that places the specimen thereon, and a transfer unit that transfers the specimen carrier,

• the magnetic field observation method comprising:
• controlling the magnetic field generated from the magnetic-field impress-unit such that a magnetic force impressed onto the probe by the magnetic-field impress-unit is turned zero;
• holding the probe a distance away from the specimen to such an extent that the probe does not come into contact with the specimen while controlling the displacement of the cantilever on the basis of a signal sent out from the displacement detector;
• holding the probe the distance away from the specimen to such an extent that the probe does not come into contact with the specimen while keeping a state where the magnetic force impressed on the probe is turned zero;
• acquiring the magnetic field distribution on the surface of the specimen while holding the probe the distance away from the specimen to such an extent that the probe does not come into contact with the specimen, in a state where the magnetic force impressed on the probe is turned zero;
• measuring a magnetic field from the magnetic-field impress-unit, at a position of the probe having approached over the specimen, by use of a magnetic-field detector, while varying an input signal to the magnetic-field impress-unit;
• acquiring and storing a relationship between the input signal to the magnetic-field impress-unit and an output signal of the magnetic-field detector, on the basis of a result of the measurement;
• scanning the specimen in X-Y directions, in relation to the probe, by use of the transfer unit;
• fetching data on a surface shape of the specimen, at respective scanned points of measurement;
• fetching data on a magnetic field at the respective scanned points of measurement;
• executing two-dimensional mapping of the data on the surface shape, as fetched, by use of respective X-Y coordinates, and displaying an image of the surface shape;
• and
• converting the data on a magnetic field, as fetched, into data on the absolute values of a magnetic field strength by making use of the relationship between the input signal to the magnetic-field impress-unit and the output signal of the magnetic-field detector;
• executing two-dimensional mapping of the data on the absolute values of the magnetic field strength, by use of respective XY coordinates, and displaying an image of the magnetic field distribution.