Magneto-optical Kerr effect of rf-sputtered PtMnSb thin films

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Abstract
Thin films of the C1b-phase Heusler alloy PtMnSb, prepared by rf sputtering and subsequent annealing, have been studied in order to assess the high magneto-optical Kerr effect of this compound. The room-temperature saturation magnetization (Ms) and coercive force (Hc) for PtMnSb thin films after being annealed at 500 °C were about 400 emu/cm3 and 110 Oe, respectively. The easy axis of magnetization was parallel to the film plane for all films. The polar Kerr rotation θK for the PtMnSb films with a C1b phase has a maximum value in excess of 1.8° at 710-nm wavelength in a 5-kOe external magnetic field perpendicular to the film plane. Thin films substituted with Ni for Pt, which are an admixture of PtMnSb and an isoelectronic compound NiMnSb, are also examined. The θK peak showed a red shift, in contrast with PtMnSb containing excess Pt concentration, where a blue shift was observed. The intensity reduced significantly with increasing Ni concentration in the films.

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