LASER ABLATION DEPOSITION AND MAGNETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF METALLIC THIN-FILMS BASED ON RARE-EARTH AND TRANSITION-METALS

Laser ablation deposition (LAD) is a very promising technique for the preparation of thin films and multilayers. Technical difficulties inherent in the method have been solved. In particular a velocity selector has been developed leading to almost complete elimination of the droplets ejected from the target. The magnetic properties of a series of model systems prepared by LAD have been studied. The anisotropy of 30 angstrom Fe(110)/W(110)/Al2O3(1120BAR) is discussed. Epitaxial bilayers of 5 angstrom Gd(0001)/25 angstrom Fe(110)/W(110) have been obtained; the Gd moments are antiparallel to the Fe moments. Thin films of Y2Co17(0001) have been successfully grown on W(110)/Al2O3(1120BAR) and their magnetic properties have been characterized.