Giant modulation of magnetic compensation temperature in ferrimagnetic GdFeCo alloys by oblique sputtering

Abstract An experimental investigation of oblique sputtering angle on the magnetic compensation temperature (TM) in ferrimagnetic GdFeCo alloys is reported. These alloys exhibit a decrease ~ 200 K in TM with an increase of oblique sputtering angle. The films were deposited by magnetron sputtering from an alloyed target. The saturation magnetization (Ms) increased with oblique sputtering angle, but the concentration of Gd (at%) was unchanged. An ‘umbrella’-type magnetic structure is employed to explain the phenomenon of modulation of TM and Ms by oblique sputtering. Ferromagnetic resonance spectrometer measurements revealed a decrease in effective perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and increase of the effective in-plane anisotropy field with increase of oblique sputtering angle. This finding provides an alternative way to modulate TM and promotes the application of ferrimagnetic alloys for future high-performance spintronic devices