Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in TbFeGa ternary alloys grown by cosputtering.

Abstract: In this work we have studied the magnetic anisotropy of as-grown TbFeGa ternary alloys with a Ga doping between 10 and 16% and a Tb content between 9 and 12%. The samples were deposited by cosputtering at room temperature in the oblique incidence from two targets with a TbFe2 and Fe3Ga nominal composition. Samples with different compositions were achieved keeping constant the DC growth power at 100W in the TbFe2 and modifying the pulsed power between 60 and 120W in the Fe3Ga target, respectively. The X-ray diffraction patterns indicate the presence of crystalline TbFe2-based phases. It has been obtained perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in all the samples except when the pulsed power increases up to 120W that corresponds to a 16% of Ga. The existence of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy seems to be related to the presence of TbFe2-based phases with a composition close to the TbFe2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]