Magnetic Properties and Kerr Effects in PtMnSb Thin Films

• Published in: IEEE translation journal on magnetics in Japan Vol. 5; no. 11; pp. 1016 - 1022
• Main Authors: Kunimoto, A., Nakanouchi, Y., Ohnuma, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.11.1990; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Annealing; Applied sciences; Coercive force; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Kerr effect; Magnetic field measurement; Magnetic films; Magnetic properties; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic properties of surface, thin films and multilayers; Magnetooptic recording; Metals. Metallurgy; Optical films; Perpendicular magnetic recording; Physics; Sputtering; Scanning electron microscopy; Ternary alloy; Magnetization; Magnetic hysteresis; Kerr magnetooptical effect; Experimental study; X ray diffraction; Thin film; Thickness; Partial pressure; Transition metal Alloys; Coercive force; Microstructure; Thermal annealing; Heusler alloy; Saturation magnetization
• ISSN: 0882-4959; 2375-0545
• DOI: 10.1109/TJMJ.1990.4564390

Dependence of magnetic properties and Kerr effects in PtMnSb thin films on oxygen partial pressure during annealing was investigated. The coercivity H c⊥ increased with oxygen partial pressure, while the change in H c″ was relatively small. The saturation magnetization M s was almost constant up to 6 × 10 -4 Torr, and then decreased rapidly at higher O 2 pressures. The Kerr rotation angle in zero magnetic field θ K(0) and the squareness ratio R s of Kerr loops took on maximum values at or near 8 × 10 -4 Torr of 0.85° and 0.45 respectively. SEM observations and X-ray diffraction studies revealed that these values are related to the preferential oxidation at PtMnSb columnar boundaries. The oxidation may shorten the size of columns and isolate them from each other.