Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of Mn_xPt_1–x–yZn_y

Authors

Kurt W. Wierman, Seagate Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA
Roger D. Kirby, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

April 1996

Comments

Published in Journal of Applied Physics, 79:8 (15 April 1996), 6206-6208. DOI: 10.1063/1.362699
Copyright © 1996 The American Institute of Physics. Used by permission.
Journal website = http://jap.aip.org/

Abstract

In this work we have prepared thin films of the ternary alloy Mn_xPt_1–x–yZn_y by magnetron sputtering onto quartz substrates. We have found a wide range of compositions which are strongly ferromagnetic at room temperature. A transition from a cubic to tetragonal phase with decreasing Pt content is confirmed by x-ray diffraction. X-ray diffraction measurements also show a strong (001) reflection consistent with long range order along the c axis for the tetragonal phase. These films show large complex Kerr rotations (up to 0.7°) in the visible spectrum. This combined with their anisotropic structure suggests that they may be suitable for magneto-optic data storage applications.