Soft magnetization of a semi-hard/soft magnetic bilayer produced by oblique-incidence evaporation

Abstract The possibility of achieving soft magnetization in semi-hard magnetic films such as Fe, Fe93.5Si6.5, Fe50Co50 and Fe70Co30 is investigated by depositing films on an Fe20Ni80 underlayer by oblique-incidence evaporation. The magnetic anisotropy of the underlayer is strengthened to a depth of several lattice parameters by vapor deposition of the film at an oblique angle to the substrate surface. This method also allows magnetic anisotropy to be induced in strongly isotropic semi-hard magnetic overlayers to a thickness of a few thousands Angstroms. The coercive force of bilayer films measured along the hard-axis is reduced remarkably by this process, and the strength of the anisotropy field is demonstrated to be readily controllable. When magnetic anisotropy exists in both magnetic layers, a significant change is observed in the magnetization processes of the semi-hard magnetic layer and the coercive forces in the hard magnetization direction is dramatically reduced. Soft magnetization of the semi-hard magnetic layer cannot be achieved when magnetic anisotropy exists in only one of the magnetic layers.