Magnetic properties of amorphous Co-Gd-Mo-Ar thin films

Abstract

The temperature dependences of the saturation magnetization of amorphous ferrimagnetic Co-Gd-Mo-Ar thin films have been analyzed in terms of the mean-field theory. This analysis yields the spin values of Co and the effective exchange interaction energies between Co-Co and Co-Gd atom pairs, which are then correlated with the film composition. Examples of the calculation of various magnetic properties from these mean-field parameters are given. The magnitude of the anisotropy energy in these films depends both on the composition and on the fabrication parameters; the temperature dependence of the anisotropy energy can be described in terms of a dipolar model.