Magnetic anisotropy in evaporated amorphous films of the ternary system Gdx(Fe1−yCoy)1−x

Abstract

Magnetic anisotropy has been determined for evaporated amorphous films of Gd_x(Fe_1−yCo_y)_1−x with 0.08<xyK_u=J C_ijM_iM_j in which C_ij is a dipolar coupling constant for the i‐j pair and M_i and M_j are sublattice magnetizations. The model satisfactorily described the experimental data for all films that were amorphous. The anisotropy could be attributed to pair ordering in which rare earth–transition metal pairs (Gd‐Co) and Gd‐Fe) contribute to in‐plane anisotropy and rare earth–rare earth (Gd‐Gd) and transition metal–transition metal (Fe‐Fe, Co‐Co, and Fe‐Co) pairs contribute to perpendicular anisotropy. The Fe‐Co pairs were the strongest contributor to perpendicular anisotropy with C_Fe‐Co=2.809, C_Fe‐Fe=0.992, and C_Co‐Co=0.660.