| In this project, we have explored the possibility of growing high quality Heusler alloy thin films from multiphase targets. Bulk targets were found to be partially formed, i.e. not of homogeneous L21 structure, through x-ray diffraction measurements. Pulsed laser deposition is a technique that can provide a congruent transfer of material from the target to the substrate, even in some cases where the target is not of a single crystalline phase. It was the objective of this work to determine whether L21 structured thin films of Co2MnAsxGe(1-x) could be grown from multiphase targets.;Measurements have been carried out to study the magnetic and structural properties of the Heusler alloys Co2MnAsxGe(1-x) . The optimization parameters that were investigated were substrate type, growth temperature, laser parameters, film thickness, and other common deposition parameters. Temperature-dependent magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) techniques were used to study the qualitative magnetic properties. Alternating current (AC) susceptibility (using a MOKE technique) measurements were made as a function of temperature to view the second-order transition and obtain the Curie temperatures. Frequency dependent AC susceptibility was measured to determine the frequency dependence of the AC susceptibility for Co 2MnAsxGe(1-x). |
