Coexistence of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic clusters in compositionally modulated amorphous Fe/sub x/Zr/sub 100-x/ (66/spl les/x/spl les/85) thin films

Previous research has shown that different magnetic (antiferromagnetic AFM and ferromagnetic FM) clusters can coexist in amorphous Fe/sub x/Zr/sub 100-x/ alloys with compositions in the range 88/spl les/x/spl les/93. This research shows that in compositionally modulated (CM) amorphous thin films, this range can be extended to x=66. Three coexisting states (one AFM and two different FM states) are observed in CM films in the range 66/spl les/x/spl les/85. With increasing Fe, the Curie temperature T/sub c1/ of the ferromagnetic matrix phase FM/sub 1/ increased from 134 K to 273 K. The existence of FM/sub 2/ was evident in the residual magnetization observed for T/spl Gt/T/sub c1/, and in the 300/spl deg/K hysteresis loops. The AFM spin clusters were evidenced in the exchange shifted hysteresis loops at 50 K. The extended compositional range for stable heterogeneity with the CM film deposition is due to the removal of restrictions imposed on atomic supply in alloy deposition.<
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