Magneto-optical properties of sputter-deposited NiMnSb thin films

High-quality thin-film of NiMnSb with the Cl-b crystal structure call be grown by low-power sputtering, at substrate temperatures as low as 250 degrees C, Structural and magneto-optical properties of these films are similar to those of bulk material prepared at high temperatures, which suggest that the predicted 100% spill-polarized behavior of NiMbSb may also be found in these films. The magneto-optical Kerr spectra have been measured, and they are found to be very sensitive to the preparation condition, The spectrum of the bulk alloy is closely reproduced only in the ease of optimized films. This suggests that, in the optimized case, the electronic band structure is bulklike. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.