Effect of a Cr Underlayer on the Magnetic Properties of TbCo Amorphous FIlms with Perpendicular Anisotropy

The effect of the Cr underlayer on the magnetic properties of TbCo amorphous films with perpendicular anisotropy has been investigated.It was found that the Cr underlayer thickness can influence the coercivity of TbCo films.A coercivity as high as 6.3kOe was obtained in 120nm Tb31Co69 films with a 180nm Cr underlayer.This was only 4.4kOe for the same thickness Tb31 CO69 films without the Cr underlayer.Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy indicated that the TbCo film with the Cr underlayer consisted of a Column structure.It is considered that this heterogeneous structure gives rise to the coercity enhancement of TbCo films in the presence of the Cr underlayer.