Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in TbFeGa ternary alloys grown by cosputtering

In this work we have studied the magnetic anisotropy of as-grown TbFeGa ternary alloys with a Ga doping between 10 and 16% and a Tb content between 9 and 12%. The samples were deposited by cosputtering at room temperature in the oblique incidence from two targets with a TbFe2 and Fe3Ga nominal composition. Samples with different compositions were achieved keeping constant the DC growth power at 100 W in the TbFe2 and modifying the pulsed power between 60 and 120 W in the Fe3Ga target, respectively. The X-ray diffraction patterns indicate the presence of crystalline TbFe2-based phases. It has been obtained perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in all the samples except when the pulsed power increases up to 120 W that corresponds to a 16% of Ga. The existence of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy seems to be related to the presence of TbFe2-based phases with a composition close to the TbFe2.

► TbFeGa ternary alloys were cosputtered from TbFe2 and Fe3Ga targets.
► The studied alloys exhibit a structure close to the cubic TbFe2 Laves phase.
► Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy seems to be related to TbFe2-based phases.