Preparation of Sm-Co Epitaxial Thin Films on Cr(100) Single-Crystal Underlayers by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

摘要

Sm-Co thin films are prepared on Cr(100) single-crystal underlayers by ultra-high vacuum molecular beam epitaxy by varying the Sm composition from 10 to 25 at. %. The effect of Sm/Co composition on phase formation is investigated by in-situ reflection high energy electron diffraction. The Sm-Co films with the Sm content ranging from 10 to 17 at. % consist primarily of SmCo_5 phase. As the Sm composition increases beyond 17 at. %, the film involves SmCo_3 and amorphous phases in addition to SmCo_5 phase. The film with the Sm composition of 17 at. % shows strong magnetic anisotropy reflecting the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of SmCo_5 crystal. The magnetic properties are influenced by the kind of Sm-Co phase.