Characterization of amorphous TbFeCo films for magneto-optical media
Sputter-deposited amorphous TbFeCo films can exhibit magneto-optical Kerr rotation and are leading candidates for erasable optical storage media. Thirty-two TbFeCo samples, deposited on quartz substrates in four different sputtering runs, were characterized by RBS, VSM, Kerr loop tracing, and polarization microscope photographs. Both Tb- and Fe-rich samples were deposited, with room-temperature coercivities ranging from 1 kOe to over 6 kOe. Kerr rotations varied from 14 to 32 min of arc (film side) and from 19 to 21 min of arc (substrate side). Domain photographs, using fields just below coercivity to initiate reversal at inherent nucleation sites, show domain shapes that vary from irregular structures with internally striped reversal to rather circular, well-reversed domains. The shape of observed domains and their internal magnetization patterns are related to composition and compared with important magneto-optical properties such as coercive field H/sub c/ and Kerr rotation theta/sub K/. Variability of these properties across different sputtering runs and within the same run are also discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215
- OSTI ID:
- 5390977
- Journal Information:
- J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 63:8; ISSN JAPIA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
ALLOYS
AMORPHOUS STATE
CHALCOGENIDES
COBALT ALLOYS
DATA
DEPOSITION
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY BEAM DEPOSITION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FILMS
INFORMATION
IRON ALLOYS
KERR EFFECT
MAGNETO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
MINERALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUARTZ
RARE EARTH ALLOYS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SUBSTRATES
SURFACE COATING
TERBIUM ALLOYS