Investigation on the structural and magnetic properties of sputtered TbFe{sub 2}/Fe{sub 3}Ga heterostructures
- Dpto. Fisica de Materiales, Fac. CC. Fisicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid 28040 (Spain)
We have analyzed the structural and magnetic properties of as-grown and annealed [TbFe{sub 2}/Fe{sub 3}Ga]{sub n} heterostructures grown by sputtering. Evidence of the bcc structure in the Fe{sub 3}Ga layers has been found. The diffraction peak related to this structure shifts to high angles with the annealing temperature. Also, we have observed a change in the microstructure of the Tb-Fe layers when the thickness layer is reduced in the as-grown heterostructures. Moreover, the Tb content is lower than 33% of the TbFe{sub 2} Laves phase and it depends on the layer thickness. The thermal treatments promote the increase of the Tb content, but only in the heterostructures with thick layers. The strong lattice mismatch between the Tb-Fe and Fe-Ga layers seems to prevent a complete Tb diffusion upon the annealing process. Thus, the crystallization of the TbFe{sub 2} Laves phase is inhibited in the heterostructures with thin layers, although our experimental results indicate the presence of potential magnetostrictive TbFeGa alloys.
- OSTI ID:
- 22038692
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 110, Issue 5; Other Information: (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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