Electron microscopy of Co-Cr films

This paper reports some results of an investigation of the domain structure and microstructure of high-rate sputtered Co-Cr films by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. We find that the form of the domain structure is dependent on (a) the degree of c-axis texture in the polycrystalline films, (b) grain size and morphology and (c) the thickness of the film. The domain structure can vary from a short wavelength ripple or featherlike structure through a stripe domain structure to a form which can be interpreted in terms of discretely magnetised regions of the film. Scanning electron micrographs of cross-sections of the thicker films show that both equiaxed and columnar structures can be obtained. The relationship between the magnetic and micro-structures are discussed in terms of these observations.