Oxidizing effects of high temperature annealing in reducing atmosphere in Ca-doped YIG films

The existence of an oxidation mechanism is reported in Ca-doped YIG films, when high temperature annealing is carried out in N₂ atmosphere. The annealing were performed at successively increasing temperatures, and optical absorption, lattice parameter and thermoelectric power were measured at each step. Optical absorption was observed going down to a minimum (T = 450°C in one cycle of annealing, T = 400°C in a different cycle) and then rise again. The minimum in absorption corresponds to a maximum of the lattice parameter, while the thermoelectric power is always p-type. Analysis of the data leads to the conclusion that we are observing a reoxidation process, triggered both by temperature and oxygen vacancy concentration. This process is subject to exhaustion. Previous annealing experiments are analyzed in the light of these results.