DY3FE5O12 GARNET THIN-FILMS GROWN FROM SPUTTERING OF METALLIC TARGETS

Dysprosium iron garnet Dy3Fe5O12 (DyIG) thin films have been synthesiz ed by postoxidizing at a temperature T(ox) (400-degrees-C<T(ox)<1100-d egrees-C) of rf sputtered amorphous Dy-Fe metallic films. The sputteri ng conditions strongly influence the growth, the composition and magne tic and magneto-optic properties of the oxidized films. Pure DyIG film s, free of DyFeO3, are synthesized at T(ox) approximately 1000-degrees -C. Magnetic and Faraday rotation (FR) experiments at three wavelength s (543.5, 632.8, and 1152 nm) were performed on DyIG films in the 4-30 0 K temperature range, as a function of magnetic field up to 20 kOe pe rpendicular to the film plane. Magnetization and FR data are in good a greement with results obtained on bulk DyIG materials. Temperature dep endent coercivity is observed with a discontinuity in the vicinity of the compensation temperature (T(comp) approximately 225 K). The temper ature variations of the spontaneous FR values for the three wavelength s are interpreted on the basis of contributions proportional to the ma gnetization of each sublattice.