Magnetic properties of amorphous Tb-Fe thin films prepared by rf sputtering

Abstract

The magnetic properties of amorphous Tb x Fe1−x films prepared by rf cosputtering were studied. For 0.15<x<0.28, the films have uniaxial magnetic anisotropy normal to the film plane sufficient to stabilize cylindrical domains. The Curie temperatureT c and the coercivityH c were measured as a function of composition. T c increases monotonically with increasing Tb content in the alloy films in the region 0.1 < x<0.5. H c is about one order of magnitude large, in contrast with amorphous Gd‐Fe films at room temperature, and it increases further at low temperatures. Amorphous Tb‐Fe films have a high potential for thermomagnetic recording using the Curie temperature because of the large H c (1–5 kOe) and the low Curie temperature (∼120°C).