Thickness-dependent magnetic properties of Ni₈₁Fe₁₉, Co₉₀Fe₁₀ and Ni₆₅Fe₁₅Co₂₀ thin films

We present results of magnetization and magnetic anisotropy measurements in thin magnetic films of the alloys Ni81Fe19, Co90Fe10 and Ni65Fe15Co20 that are commonly used in magnetoelectronic devices. The films were sandwiched between layers of Ta. At room temperature the critical thickness for all the films to become ferromagnetic is in the range 11-13 Å. In Co90Fe10 the coercivity and the anisotropy field both depend strongly on layer thickness. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.