Magnetic and structural investigation of heat treated ion beam sputtered amorphous Co/sub 74/Fe/sub 6/B/sub 15/Si/sub 5/ films

As-deposited and annealed specimens of ion-beam-sputtered amorphous Co/sub 74/Fe/sub 6/B/sub 15/Si/sub 5/ thin films were examined to explore the correlation between changes in magnetic properties and atomic structure. Specimens were characterized magnetically, by traditional AC and DC techniques, and structurally, via conversion-electron extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. Results show significant ordering of the higher-order atomic shells around the transition metal ions well below the crystallization temperature. This ordering evolves into body-centered-cubic configuration around both the Co and Fe ions. Increases in nearest-neighbor peak positions in the EXAFS Fourier transforms were observed to correlate with increasing annealing temperatures. Evidence is presented for the role of the ordering in the observed magnetic changes.<
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