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Updated: May 26, 2026

Optimizing Magnetic Force Microscopy Resolution and Sensitivity to Visualize Nanoscale Magnetic Domains
Published on: July 20, 2022
Spin and orbital magnetic moments of free nanoparticles
S Peredkov1, M Neeb, W Eberhardt
1Institut für Optik und Atomare Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstrasse 36, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
Abstract:
The determination of spin and orbital magnetic moments from the free atom to the bulk phase is an intriguing challenge for nanoscience, in particular, since most magnetic recording materials are based on nanostructures. We present temperature-dependent x-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements of free Co clusters (N=8-22) from which the intrinsic spin and orbital magnetic moments of noninteracting magnetic nanoparticles have been deduced. An exceptionally strong enhancement of the orbital moment is verified for free magnetic clusters which is 4-6 times larger than the bulk value. Our temperature-dependent measurements reveal that the spin orientation along the external magnetic field is nearly saturated at ~20 K and 7 T, while the orbital orientation is clearly not.
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