PtMnSb 薄膜の磁性およびカー効果

抄録

Dependence of magnetic properties and Kerr effects in PtMnSb thin films on oxygen partial pressure during annealing was investigated. Coercivity H_c(⊥) increased as the oxygen partial pressure increased, while the change in H_c(//) was relatively small. Saturation magnetization (M_s) was almost constant up to 6 × 10^-4 Torr, and then decreased rapidly above that pressure. Kerr rotation angle at nonmagnetic field (θ_k(0)) and square ratio (R_s) of Kerr loops have maximum values at around 8 × 10^-4 Torr and these are 0.85° and 0.45, respectively. SEM observation and X-ray diffraction clarified that these values are related to the preferential oxidation at PtMnSb columnar boundaries. The oxidation may shorten the size of columns and isolate them from each other.