Microstructure and optical properties of pulsed-laser-deposited iron oxide films

Author

Tepper, T. ; Ross, C.A. ; Dionne, G.F.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Mater. Sci. & Eng., Massachusetts Inst. of Technol., Cambridge, MA, USA

Volume

40

Issue

3

fYear

2004

fDate

5/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1685

Lastpage

1690

Abstract

We have grown epitaxial iron oxide films on MgO substrates using pulsed laser deposition. In the wavelength range of 0.3-2 μm, the refractive index was 2.5±0.2 and the absorption coefficient was in the range of 5-16 μm^-1, with a minimum at a 0.87-μm wavelength. Absorption peaks were fitted at 0.33±0.01 μm, 0.54±0.04 μm, and 1.78±0.15 μm wavelengths. The Faraday rotation of the films was 4°/μm at 0.645 μm and 2.5°/μm at 1.55 μm. Both the high Faraday rotation and the high absorption, in addition to a significant electrical conductivity, are most probably the result of Fe²⁺ ions present in the γ-Fe₂O₃ films deposited in vacuum.

Keywords

epitaxial growth; iron compounds; magnesium compounds; optical properties; pulsed laser deposition; thin films; 0.3 to 2 microns; Faraday rotation; Fe₂O₃; absorption coefficient; absorption peaks; electrical conductivity; epitaxial iron oxide films; maghemite; microstructure; optical properties; pulsed laser deposition; pulsed-laser-deposited iron oxide films; refractive index; Absorption; Iron; Microstructure; Optical films; Optical pulses; Optical refraction; Optical variables control; Pulsed laser deposition; Refractive index; Substrates; Faraday rotation; iron oxide; maghemite; pulsed laser deposition;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TMAG.2004.827215

Filename

1298945