Characterizing fragile magnetic textures in three dimensions using Scanning NV magnetometry

Scanning NV magnetometry (SNVM) is a sensitive and non-invasive magnetic characterization technique. However, its operation principle is based on rastering a surface, making it intrinsically challenging to characterize three dimensional textures. Here, we discuss mitigation strategies that allow using the high spatial resultion, sensitivity and non-invasivness of SNVM [1] in the third dimension. Motivated by the current interest in three dimensional magnetic structures, we will demonstrate the investigation of magnetic monopoles in 3D artificial spin-ice structures [2]. We will show how we identify topological solitons and monopolar fields in these structures, while preserving the fragility of the states.[3] For the exploration of the highly divergent monopole defects, we vary the NV flying distance [4] and confirm our findings by micromagnetic simulations.