Magnetostriction and Microstructure of As-Deposited and Annealed Co Thin Films

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe magnetostriction of as-sputtered and annealed 400 nm thick Co films has been studied in longitudinal and transverse magnetic fields. The appreciable change of the magnetostriction behavior after annealing above 250 °C is correlated to grain growth and to the related change of the texture (from nearly randomly distributed hcp-Co crystallites to a c-axes texture perpendicular to the film plane). The magnetostriction behavior in the annealed samples cannot be explained by a domain magnetization within the film plane. It is assumed that a rotation of the spontaneous magnetization out of the film plane occurs due to the development of a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.