MFM STUDY OF NDFEB AND NDFEB FE/NDFEB THIN-FILMS/

Domain structures of NdFeB thin films, ranging in thickness between 15 00 and 29 nm, have been studied qualitatively by magnetic force micros copy (MFM). Samples were prepared using a range of sputtering conditio ns resulting in differences in properties such as texture, coercivity and magnetic saturation. MFM images of all the films showed extensive interaction domain structures, similar to those observed in nanocrysta lline bulk NdFeB. An exchange-coupled NdFeB/Fe/NdFeB trilayer with lay er thicknesses 18nm/15nm/18nm, respectively, was also examined using M FM. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.