PREPARATION AND SOFT-MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF EPITAXIAL FE-SI(111) MONOLAYER FILMS AND FE-SI(111) CR(111) MULTILAYER FILMS/

Epitaxial Fe-Si(111) monolayer films and [Fe-Si(111)/Cr(111)](4) multi layer films were grown on Si(111) substrates by de facing-targets sput tering. The thickness dependence of the Fe-Si layer and the Cr layer o n the crystallinity and the magnetic properties was studied. In the ca se of Fe-7.2 wt% Si(111) monolayer films, excellent soft magnetic prop erties were observed in films thinner than 200 nm. The sudden deterior ation of soft magnetic properties was observed at the thickness of 200 nm. Torque measurements of the films revealed that the increase of ef fective anisotropy energy caused the deterioration of soft magnetic pr operties. In the [Fe-7.2 wt% Si(111)/Cr(111)](4) multilayer films, per meability increased with increase of the Cr layer thickness, and excel lent soft magnetic properties of multilayer films were obtained with a Cr layer thickness of 20 nm. Soft magnetic characteristics were impro ved in the multilayered structure compared with the monolayer film wit h identical total thickness of magnetic layers. (C) 1997 American Inst itute of Physics.