MAGNETIC AND TRANSPORT-PROPERTIES OF PERMALLOY THIN-FILMS GROWN BY MOLECULAR-BEAM EPITAXY

NixFe100-x thin films with x-65%-90%, have been grown by molecular bea m epitaxy on top of thin Fe/Pd multilayers. In situ electron diffracti on, and ex situ x-ray diffraction indicate epitaxial growth of the fil ms in a face-centered cubic structure, with the (011) axis perpendicul ar to the substrate. This has been confirmed by electron microscopy, w hich also reveals regions of polycrystalline growth. Although the perm alloy film itself has negligible magnetic anisotropy, the in-plane uni axial anisotropy induced in the Fe layers can be transferred to the Ni Fe alloy layer through a 5-angstrom Pd spacer layer. The high crystall ine quality of the films results in bulklike transport properties; sig ma = 25 muOMEGA cm, and DELTAR/R = 2%, for a 60-angstrom-thick film.