On the phenomena occurring at the interface between iron and iron–platinum thin films

FePt films were rf sputtered at room temperature and 550?C on MgO monocrystalline substrates. Room temperature films were post-annealed at 550?C. The high temperature growth induces a tetragonal distortion of the structure with the formation of L1₀-FePt phase. Soft iron layers, with different thickness, were e-beam deposited on these hard films. The phenomena occurring at the interface have been analysed and connected with the final magnetic behaviour of the system. It has been found that a strong exchange coupling between soft and hard layers has been established through the formation of an interfacial layer constituted by FePt small particles.