Exquisite growth control and magnetic properties of yttrium iron garnet thin films

• Published in: Applied physics letters Vol. 108; no. 10
• Main Authors: Tang, Chi, Aldosary, Mohammed, Jiang, Zilong, Chang, Houchen, Madon, Benjamin, Chan, Kyle, Wu, Mingzhong, Garay, Javier E., Shi, Jing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melville American Institute of Physics 07.03.2016
• Subjects: Anisotropy; Applied physics; Damping; Epitaxial growth; Ferrimagnetism; Gadolinium; Gadolinium-gallium garnet; Iron; Magnetic properties; Magnetism; Pulsed laser deposition; Pulsed lasers; Substrates; Thick films; Thin films; Yttrium; Yttrium-iron garnet

A layer-by-layer epitaxial growth up to 227 atomic layers of ferrimagnetic insulator yttrium iron garnet (YIG) thin films is achieved on (110)-oriented gadolinium gallium garnet substrates using pulsed laser deposition. Atomically smooth terraces are observed on YIG films up to 100 nm in thickness....