Structural inhomogeneity and magnetic properties of amorphous Gd sub 17 Co sub 83 compositionally modulated thin films

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Applied Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.345923· OSTI ID:6950049

Choe, G; Valanju, A P; Walser, R M ^[1]

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1. The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712 (USA)

Amorphous Gd{sub 17}Co{sub 83} compositionally modulated films (CMFs) with different bilayer periods were prepared by sequential deposition in a rf diode multitarget sputtering system. Morphological inhomogeneities with variable size, shape, and uniformity on the scale of 20--100 A were produced by variations in deposition parameters including substrate bias. Data from small-angle electron scattering and Fourier digital image processing of TEM micrographs revealed that the morphological inhomogeneities were due to compositional fluctuations. The {minus}65 V bias sputtered films (bilayer period {lt}10 A) exhibited uniform small particles, while the unbiased films showed a wide distribution of morphological inhomogeneities. Magnetic domain observations indicated that the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy was determined by the size, shape, and distribution of the film inhomogeneities. The results suggested that the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy was a result of exchange coupling between uniformly shaped inhomogeneities.

• OSTI ID: 6950049
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA) Vol. 67:9; ISSN 0021-8979; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
ALLOYS
AMORPHOUS STATE
ANISOTROPY
COBALT ALLOYS
DOMAIN STRUCTURE
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
FILMS
GADOLINIUM ALLOYS
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MODULATION
MORPHOLOGY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUANTITY RATIO
RARE EARTH ALLOYS
SCATTERING
SMALL ANGLE SCATTERING
SPUTTERING
THIN FILMS