Robust perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Ce substituted yttrium iron garnet epitaxial thin films

Abstract

Cerium substituted yttrium iron garnet (Ce:YIG) epitaxial thin films are prepared on a gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) substrate with pulsed laser deposition. It is observed that the films grown on a GGG(111) substrate exhibit perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) as compared to films grown on a GGG(100) substrate. The developed PMA is confirmed from a magneto-optical Kerr effect, bulk magnetization, and ferromagnetic resonance measurements. Furthermore, the magnetic bubble domains are observed in the films exhibiting PMA. The observations are explained in terms of the growth direction of Ce:YIG films and the interplay of various magnetic anisotropy terms. The observed PMA is found to be tunable with the thickness of the film, and a remarkable temperature stability of the PMA is observed in all the studied films of Ce:YIG deposited on a GGG(111) substrate.