Growth and magnetic properties of NiMnGa thin films prepared by pulsed laser ablation

Abstract

Ni-Mn-Ga alloys have attracted increasing attention due to their large magnetic-field-induced stresses and the potential applications in sensors and actuators. In the present work, NiMnGa half-Heusler alloy films have been deposited on Si(100) substrates by the pulsed laser deposition technique at temperatures ranging from 450 to 650 °C. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy observation show the phase structure and surface morphology of these films are different, and energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis shows compositions of the films remain nearly unchanged, independent of the deposition temperature. Vibrating sample magnetometer measurement indicates that good magnetic properties are obtained. All the films exhibit the same coercive field, about 250 Oe. The thermomagnetic curve shows that the Curie temperature of NiMnGa films is higher than room temperature, which is crucial for the room-temperature application. © 2005 IOP Publishing Ltd.