Low damping magnetic properties and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in the Heusler alloy Fe1.5CoGe

We present a study of the dynamic magnetic properties of TiN-buffered epitaxial thin films of the Heusler alloy Fe1.5CoGe. Thickness series annealed at different temperatures are prepared and the magnetic damping is measured, a lowest value of α = 2.18 × 10−3 is obtained. The perpendicular magnetic anisotropy properties in Fe1.5CoGe/MgO are also characterized. The evolution of the interfacial perpendicular anisotropy constant KS⊥ with the annealing temperature is shown and compared with the widely used CoFeB/MgO interface. A large volume contribution to the perpendicular anisotropy of (4.3 ± 0.5) × 105 J/m3 is also found, in contrast with vanishing bulk contribution in common Co- and Fe-based Heusler alloys.