Magnetic properties of cobalt rare-earth thin films

This paper describes the magnetic properties of dc sputtered thin films of Co-Gd and Co-Sm in various compositions. Magnetic moment density, hysteresis loop coercivity and squareness, and rotational hysteresis loss measurements are reported. Crystallite and domain sizes were observed with an electron microscope for a few compositions. A tentative model of magnetization reversal is proposed for some of the compositions.