Electronic and magneto-optical properties of ion beam sputtered rare earth-FeCo thin films

Author

Weller, D. ; Reim, W. ; Schrijner, P.

Author_Institution

Siemens AG, Erlangen, West Germany

Volume

24

Issue

6

fYear

1988

fDate

11/1/1988 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2554

Lastpage

2556

Abstract

Amorphous rare-earth-transition-metal thin films have been deposited in ultrahigh vacuum by ion beam sputtering. Film composition and purity are controlled by Auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. X-ray and ultraviolet photoemission valence band spectra are compared with polar magnetooptical Kerr-effect spectra in the photon energy range 0.5⩽hv⩽5 eV. The f→d transitions are found to enhance magnetooptical effects considerably in NdCo and NdFeCo films, while GdFeCo and TbFeCo spectra are dominated by d excitations of the FeCo. Evidence is found for the coexistence of Yb ²⁺ and Yb³⁺ valence state in amorphous YbFeCo and possible f→d contributions in the magnetooptical spectrum

Keywords

Kerr magneto-optical effect; X-ray photoelectron spectra; cobalt alloys; iron alloys; magnetic thin films; magneto-optical devices; magneto-optical effects; rare earth alloys; sputtered coatings; 0.5 to 5 eV; Auger electron spectroscopy; GdFeCo films; NdCo films; NdFeCo films; RE-TM thin films; TbFeCo films; UV spectra; X-ray photoemission spectroscopy; X-ray spectra; YbFeCo films; amorphous thin films; d excitations; electronic properties; f to d transitions; ion beam sputtering; magnetooptical effects; magnetooptical properties; magnetooptical spectrum; photoemission valence band spectra; photon energy; polar magnetooptical Kerr-effect spectra; sputter deposited films; ultrahigh vacuum; Amorphous magnetic materials; Amorphous materials; Ferrimagnetic films; Ion beams; Magnetic properties; Magnetooptic effects; Photoelectricity; Spectroscopy; Sputtering; Temperature;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.92171

Filename

92171