Preparation of Mn2Sb:X (X = Bi,Cr) Films and Their Magnetic and Magnetooptical Properties

Mn2Sb films prepared by vacuum evaporation are known to be perpendicular magnetization films. The effect on the magnetic and magnetooptical properties of Mn2Sb films of adding Bi and Cr was investigated over a wide range of compositions, extending up to 26 at% Bi and 16.4 at% Cr. Samples remained perpendicular magnetization films even when such large amounts of the third element were added, but the substitution of Bi for Sb is estimated from magnetic and AES measurements to be only about 8 at%, with the remaining Bi precipitated at the free surface of the film. The magnetooptical Faraday rotation angle at ¿ = 633 nm was decreased as a third element was added. Since Bi-and Cr-modified Mn2Sb intermetallic compounds are known to undergo a first-order phase transition from antiferromagnetic to ferrimagnetic behavior, these films (films containing Cr in particular) may find applications in temperature sensors which make use of the phase transition temperature.