Evidence of a Surface-Mediated Magnetically Induced Miscibility Gap in Co-Pt Alloy Thin Films

Abstract
(100) and (111) oriented single-crystal CoPt3 films were deposited over a range of growth temperatures from 50 to 800C. The Curie temperature is increased by 200C over the value expected for the homogeneous alloy in the as-deposited films (of both orientations) grown near 400C. We interpret this as evidence for a previously unobserved, surface-mediated, magnetically driven miscibility gap in vapor-deposited CoPt3 films. Large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is also observed in the as-deposited films (of both orientations) grown near 400C.