SURFACE PROPERTIES OF NANOSCALE IRON GARNET FILMS

Surface properties of nanoscale iron garnet films of different compositions prepared by reactive ion beam sputtering were examined by means of scanning probe microscopy. Atomic force microscope images of the film surfaces are represented for the films of different compositions and deposition times. The article presents the dependences of the roughness parameters on the film composition and thickness and on the energy of Ar+ ions by which the substrates were pre-treated. It was shown that the roughness parameters of the films' surface increase with the increase of Ar+ ions energy and the films' thickness.