Imaging of magnetic domains with scanning tunneling optical microscopy

Near field magneto-optical images of magnetic domains in ferromagnetic soft garnet films have been obtained with a scanning tunneling optical microscope working in total reflection geometry with shear-force control of the tip-to-sample distance. In this geometry a magneto-optical contrast is observed for the first time between domains of opposite magnetization without using modulation techniques. When applying a static or alternating external magnetic field, the magneto-optical images provide the location of domain wall pinning points.