THE MAGNETIC AND MAGNETOOPTICAL PROPERTIES OF CO, CR, MN, AND NI SUBSTITUTED BARIUM FERRITE FILMS

Using rapid thermal processing (RTP) we recently demonstrated the prod uction of high quality well ordered barium ferrite films in times much shorter than those required by a conventional annealing process. Infl uence over the magnetic and structural properties developed in anneale d samples was also achieved by variation of the RTP heating profile (R . Carey, P. A. Gago-Sandoval, D. M. Newman, and B. W. J. Thomas, prese nted at Intermag-93, Stockhohn, April 13-16, 1993). It is known that t he magneto-optic properties of barium ferrite can be enhanced by selec tive substitution of some of the Fe by Co2+ and Ti4+ albeit at the exp ense of reducing the magnetic anisotropy. A multitarget scanning cospu ttering process has been used in conjunction with rapid thermal proces sing to produce a series of barium ferrite films in which Co, Cr, Mn, Ni are selectively introduced to substitute for between 5 and 20 at. % of the Fe. A corresponding percentage of Ti is also added to maintain charge compensation. The magnetic and magneto-optic properties of the se films are presented and discussed with reference to their compositi on and treatment respect to the properties of barium ferrite.