Effects of layer thickness on orientation distribution and magnetic properties of CoCrTa/Cr films

Evolution of orientation distribution of Co(110) crystal planes was determi ned by x-ray rocking curves. It has been found that: (i) The full-width at half maximum W of the Co(110) rocking curve decreases with both increasing Cr underlayer thickness d(Cr), and increasing CoCrTa magnetic layer thickne ss d(Co), especially in the thin layer regime. (ii) For the thin d(Co) regi me, the interlayer diffusion between the Cr underlayer and the magnetic lay er affects the rocking curves and magnetic properties significantly. (iii) Film magnetic properties, e.g., a significant jump in coercivity with incre asing magnetic layer thickness in the thin d(Co) regime may be related in p art to the evolution of the Co(110) orientation distribution. (C) 1999 Amer ican Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)60608-9].