Effect of a forming field on the magnetic and structural properties of thin Fe-Ga films

Abstract

The structural, magnetic, and magnetostrictive properties of 75 nm Fe100-x Gax films (0≤x≤30) have been studied to determine how a forming field during growth affects these properties. Two film sets were grown using a cosputtering-evaporation technique with and without a forming field of 65 kA m-1. Using x-ray diffraction, the texture, lattice parameter, and the grain size were determined. An out-of-plane 〈110〉 texture was found for all films. The magnetization loops were measured on a magneto-optic Kerr effect magnetometer, from which the anisotropy symmetry was inferred from the remanent magnetization. It was found that the forming field produced a pronounced uniaxial anisotropy. The effective magnetostriction constant was measured using the Villari effect. The effective magnetostriction constant was compared with that calculated for a polycrystalline film with 〈110〉 out-of-plane texture using bulk constants, and the results are discussed. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.