Properties of Fe/MgO (100) nanometric films grown by dc sputtering

Structural and magneto- crystalline properties of Fe nanometric films, grown on MgO(100) using dc magnetron sputtering, were studied by different experimental techniques. Thickness and surface roughness of the films were investigated by atomic force microscopy, while magneto- crystalline properties were investigated by the magneto- optical Kerr effect and ferromagnetic resonance. Furthermore, the purity degree of the films was investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Our results show that as we increase the deposition temperature, the magneto- crystalline anisotropy of the films also increases, as an indication of a better crystallinity of the samples. The saturation value of the magneto- crystalline anisotropy (550 Oe corresponding to bulk Fe) is reached at deposition temperature of 300 degrees C.