FERROMAGNETISM ABOVE ROOM-TEMPERATURE IN MN-SI-C ALLAY FILMS

Mn-Si-C alloy films are prepared by e-beam coevaporation onto a Si sub strate held at 600 degrees C. Ferromagnetism is observed below T-c=(36 0+/-5)K with SQUID magnetometry and magneto-optical Kerr effect. This is the highest Curie temperature T-c yet observed for a Mn-based alloy . Although the composition determined by Auger depth profiling varies appreciably for different films, their T-c is the same indicating that ferromagnetism is caused by an alloy of well-defined composition inde pendent of precipitations. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.