Stability of nonthermodynamic equilibrium cation distribution frozen during pulsed laser deposition of Co-ferrite thin films

Co-ferrite thin films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition technique at room temperature, and magnetization was studied as a function of annealing temperature (T _A ) and annealing time. One set of films was quenched immediately after annealing while the other set was furnace cooled. Spontaneous magnetization value, 4π M _S , of the quenched films was observed to be higher than the furnace cooled films in all the cases. Magnetization increases monotonically up to T _A =650°C and then became nearly constant with the increase in T _A . Magnetization values even higher than the Co-ferrite bulk value of 5300 G was observed in the quenched films annealed at and above 650°C. In the case of furnace cooled films, magnetization decreased with the increase in annealing time, while it remained nearly constant in quenched films. Coercivity values of the quenched films were always found to be lower than those of the furnace cooled films. The observed magnetic properties in the films were attributed to the cation distribution and the grain sizes.