The structure and magnetic properties of amorphous magnetic thin films

A review of the structural and magnetic properties of amorphous ferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic thin films is presented. An attempt is made to report structural information on atomic and microstructural scales, and to stress its relevance to the magnetic properties of these materials. The more obvious microstructural features of deposited films are not present in the other important type of amorphous magnetic material prepared by rapid quenching from the melt, and present opportunities for differences in structure dependent magnetic properties. In the main, three classes of amorphous magnetic films are considered. Ferromagnetic transition metal (TM) films which are metastable only at temperatures well below room temperature are discussed. Their importance lies in the fact that they clearly represent the most fundamental amorphous phase. Ferromagnetic transition metal-metalloid (TM-Me) alloys have potential applications as magnetically soft materials. These alloys are, perhaps, the most studied amorphous magnetic materials both in deposited thin film and rapidly quenched ribbon forms. Finally, amorphous rare earth-transition metal (RE-TM) films are reviewed. They exhibit a wide variety of magnetic properties encompassing both extremely low and very high coercivities and also perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The possible application of these materials in various types of device has encouraged much detailed research into their magnetic properties. This has highlighted the importance of preparation conditions and microstructure in defining their properties.