Nano-structure and Magnetic Properties of FePd Superlattice Thin Film

Epitaxial FePd (001) thin films were successfully manufactured by sputtering deposition method. The structure and magnetic properties of FePd thin films were characterized as a function of Fe compositions. It was found that the long-range ordering parameter had a maximum for the stoichiometric composition, whereas the magnetic anisotropy had a maximum as the Fe content is decreased to slightly above the stoichiometric composition. This indicates that the stoichiometry is directly contributed to the chemical ordering and the magnetic anisotropy. These results imply that nonstoichiometric FePd compositions, with a slight excess of Pd, may in fact be preferred for applications that require high magnetic anisotropy.