Observation of zigzag domains in the surface layer of Fe-based microwires by magnetic force microscopy

•In low magnetic fields the domain structure of the surface layer consisted of zigzag-shaped domains elongated along the microwire axis.•When applying a magnetic field along the microwire axis, ring domains with a radial orientation of the magnetic moment were formed.•The width of the domains is 2 µm in the microwire with a diameter of 20 µm.•The observed zigzag domains are inclined to the microwire axis at an angle of 45 degrees.