Structural, magnetic, and transport properties of Co${}_2$FeSi Heusler films

Abstract

We report the deposition of thin Co${}_2$FeSi films by RF magnetron sputtering. Epitaxial (100)-oriented and L2${}_1$ ordered growth is observed for films grown on MgO(100) substrates. (110)-oriented films on Al${}_2$O${}_3$(110) show several epitaxial domains in the film plane. Investigation of the magnetic properties reveals a saturation magnetization of 5.0 $m{u}_B/f.u.$ at low temperatures. The temperature dependence of the resistivity $rh{o}_{xx}(T)$ exhibits a crossover from a T^3.5 law at T<50K to a T^1.65 behaviour at elevated temperatures. $rh{o}_{xx}(H)$ shows a small anisotropic magnetoresistive effect. A weak dependence of the normal Hall effect on the external magnetic field indicates the compensation of electron and hole like contributions at the Fermi surface.

10 pages, 9 figures to be published in J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys