Influence of H2 addition on the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of Gd–Co amorphous films deposited by ion beam sputtering

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Abstract
The influence of the addition of hydrogen H2 on the penpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the Gd–Co films deposited by ion beam sputtering has been investigated precisely. Specimen film about 5000 Å thick were deposited on glass slide and rock salt substrates under the strict control of hydrogen partial pressure. The incorporation of H2 into Gd–Co films, as that of O2 and N2, leads to shift of compensation composition at room temperature from the Gd content of 18 at. % to higher Gd content. The Gd–Co:H films show perpendicular magnetization within very wide region of the composition, from about 55 at. % Co to 75 at. %. Besides, the incorporation of H2 increases the K⊥ of the films with Co content less than 75 at. %; however, it decreases that of the films with Co content more than 75 at. %. The electron diffraction pattern of the films changes from broad ring to two separated rings with the incorporation of H2, which indicates that the incorporation of hydrogen causes a phase separation of gadolinium hydrides and cobalt alloys in the Gd–Co:H films.