Investigation on the structural and magnetic properties of sputtered TbFe{sub 2}/Fe{sub 3}Ga heterostructures

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3626070· OSTI ID:22038692

Ranchal, R; Gonzalez-Martin, V ^[1]

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1. 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, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 110; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANNEALING
BCC LATTICES
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
CRYSTALLIZATION
DEPOSITION
DIFFRACTION
DIFFUSION
GALLIUM ALLOYS
HETEROJUNCTIONS
IRON ALLOYS
LAVES PHASES
LAYERS
MAGNETOSTRICTION
MICROSTRUCTURE
TERBIUM ALLOYS
THIN FILMS