Unidirectional Anisotropy in Permalloy Films at 4.2°K

Abstract
Studies of the temperature dependence of the unidirectional anisotropy of permalloy films as a function of the oxidation of the surface are reported and correlated with electron diffration studies of the surface oxides. Hematite (α‐Fe2O3) is found to correlate with the existence of the anisotropy in films oxidized at 120°C in which the transition temperature is near 40°K. A specimen oxidized at 250°C showed a higher and broader transition though no α‐Fe2O3 could be correlated with the existence of the unidirectional anisotropy.