Easy axis dispersion and micromagnetic structure of electrodeposited, highmoment Fe-Co-Ni films

The magnetic properties of soft films are usually affected by extrinsic pro perties such as easy axis dispersion and domain structure, which are depend ent on deposition conditions, microstructure, alloy composition, and intern al stresses. In this work, the anisotropy dispersion of electrodeposited, h igh moment Fe-Co-Ni alloys of various compositions is investigated by measu ring the angular dependence of the remanence, M-r. These data are correlate d with the micromagnetic structure of the films as determined by magnetic f orce microscopy. Films of type A (saturation magnetostriction lambda (s)>0, high; internal stress sigma >0, high), B (lambda (s)>0, low; sigma >0, low ), and C (lambda (s)<0; sigma >0) have been grown at increasing current den sity in the presence of a magnetic field and show increasing Ni content. Ty pe A films exhibit a large dispersion of the easy axis (alpha (90)similar t o 51 degrees). A relatively large coercivity (similar to 25 Oe) was obtaine d and high remanence was observed along the hard axis, correlated with a ri pple structure. Type B films show well-defined uniaxial anisotropy with sma ll easy axis dispersion (alpha (90)similar to3.0 degrees). Stripe domains w ere formed in type C films due to the stress anisotropy induced perpendicul arly to the film plane. Type B films show the best potential for applicatio n in high frequency magnetic devices, in particular, recording write heads, due to the high saturation magnetization and well-defined uniaxial anisotr opy. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.