CRYSTAL-GROWTH PROCESS OF RB-DOPED IRON-GARNET FILMS FOR M-O RECORDING PREPARED BY PYROLYSIS

The crystal growth process of nondoped and Rb-doped Bi-iron garnet films prepared by pyrolysis on glass substrates was investigated. The growth processes were observed with a differential interference microscope. Crystal domains appearing at the early stage of the annealing were fused to each other with the progress of the annealing. Rb-doped films were much more smooth and uniform than the nondoped films. It is concluded that the contrast of light intensity observed by DIM was not caused by the surface roughness but was caused by the inhomogeneity of the refractive index. The media noise and writing noise level could be decreased in the Rb-doped films because of their improved homogeneity. © 1990 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.