2D imaging spin-filter for NanoESCA based on Au/Ir(001) or Fe(001)-p(1×1)O.

• A 2D imaging spin-filter for photoemission electron microscopy is introduced. • Spin–orbit scattering at Au/Ir(001) offers up to 104 detection channels. • Two spin-components are detected, scattering at an oxygen passivated iron film. • A method to detect all three spin components is outlined. A two-dimensional imaging spin-filter for photo-emission electron microscopy is described. The spin-filter is capable of imaging the electron spin polarization of either real space or momentum space electron distributions. As a scattering target either Au/Ir(001) comes into use, where spin sensitivity results from using spin–orbit scattering or Fe(001)-p(1×1)O that exploits exchange interaction. Both scattering targets were characterized with respect to their working points and Sherman function in a separate setup. Spin-polarization images of secondary electrons from the magnetic domains of a poly-crystalline iron sample are shown using both scattering targets. Images with a spin-filter using Au/Ir(001) show more than 104 discrete detection channels which increases the effective two-dimensional figure-of-merit (FoM) of this spin-filter by four orders of magnitude compared to single-channel spin detectors. Using the exchange scattering target two spin-components have been imaged for the first time. A method to detect all three spin-components is also outlined. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]