Magnetic properties of deposited iron clusters produced in a high-yield laser vaporization source<FNR HREF="f1"></FNR><FN ID="f1">Lecture given at the Workshop on Nanoporous Materials and Magnetic Properties of Nanostructured Materials, organized by the ECNM, 19–20 September 1997, Frascati, Italy</FN>

Clusters of iron produced in a laser vaporization source have been characterized with time-of-flight spectra and deposited on different substrates for production of films of varying thickness. The magnetic properties of these films with thicknesses of 60 and 120 nm were investigated using an alternating gradient magnetometer. The films exhibit mono-domain behavior from a broad size distribution which has been confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Films were also investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy, which showed fast relaxation in the particles at room temperature. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.