  Development of experimental techniques for characterization of magnetic
properties at high spatial resolution is essential for progress in
miniaturization of magnetic devices, for example, in data storage media.
Inelastic scattering of electron vortex beams (EVB) was recently reported to
contain atom-specific magnetic information. We have developed a theoretical
description of inelastic scattering of EVB on crystals and performed
simulations for EVB of different diameters. We show that use of an EVB wider
than an interatomic distance does not provide any advantage over an ordinary
convergent beam without angular momentum. On the other hand, in the atomic
resolution limit, electron energy loss spectra measured by EVB are strongly
sensitive to the spin and orbital magnetic moments of studied matter, when
channeling through or very close to the atomic columns. Our results demonstrate
the boundaries for efficient use of EVB in measurement of magnetic properties.
