Surface morphological changes and magnetic properties of Sc-substituted Y3Fe5O12 epitaxial films deposited on the GGG substrate

Sc-doped YIG films were grown on (1 1 1) oriented GGG crystalline substrate with disorientation angle within the range 0–25′. Sc3+ ion substitution was varied within the range 0.25–0.3 per formula unit. The films demonstrate different types of surface morphology versus film growth rate and substrate disorientation. Conditions for existence of these types of the surface morphology were defined. The field dependence of magnetic susceptibility at magnetization reversal in film plane and Faraday rotation at wavelength 633 nm for a magnetic field applied in perpendicular direction were measured to characterize the films grown. Films with “mirror-like” surface demonstrate a planar magnetization at room temperature.