Co-Eu-EuS EXCHANGE COUPLED MAGNETIC THIN FILM WITH PERPENDICULAR ANISOTROPY BY RF SPUTTERING

摘要

For a high storage density magneto-optical (MO) media, a material with large kerr rotation is necessary to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. The divalent europium compounds which have a giant kerr rotation (6°) are good candidates for this application. However, because of their low Curie temperature (15k), we lose the large magneto-optical effect at room temperature. Previous work has been done to raise the Curie temperature by exchange coupling EuS with Co [1]. Those samples which were prepared by electron beam co-deposition were found to have raised Curie temperatures and magnetic compensation effects. This work showed the Co matrix antiferromagnetically exchange coupled with EuS particles. In this paper, RF sputtering was used to prepare Co-Eu-EuS thin film samples with different compositions. Films of perpendicular anisotropy were successfully prepared and showed compensation effects.