THE MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF DYFECO THIN-FILMS

A dc magnetron co-sputtering system incorporating a rotating substrate table has been used to produce Dy-FeCo films with a multilayered stru cture. For this study a series of films were produced in which the per iodicity was varied whilst the overall composition and film thickness were kept constant. The magnetic, thermo-magnetic and magneto-optic pr operties of the films have been measured in an attempt to establish th e best layer structure and periodicity for good thermo-magnetic record ing characteristics. For the two compositions studied, Dy22Fe68.5Co9.5 and Dy28Fe52Co20, the optimum characteristics were found for films in which the rare earth Dy layer is approximately one atomic layer thick .