Structure and magnetic properties of Fe-rich vapor-quenched Fe90–xNixZr10 thin films

The structure and magnetic properties of thin Fe90–xNixZr10 alloy films with x = 0, 5, and 10 are studied. The structure observed by electron diffraction and transmission electron microscopy reveals the crystalline phase in as-deposited samples. However, the temperature dependence of resistivity suggests the presence of a significant amount of amorphous phase as well. Some new fine-grained structure is observed in the studied films after annealing. Saturation magnetization and magnetization reversal curves are obtained by the Hall effect, and magnetooptical Faraday and Kerr effects, respectively. Ms depends significantly on the alloy composition and weakly on the heat treatment condtions. Hysteresis loops of the films studied reveal very weak uniaxial in-plane anisotropy and undirection-like anisotropy, the latter leading to asymmetric loops shifted along the H-axis. The magnetic properties appear to be consistent with the structure of the studied samples.