Temperature and concentration dependent magnetic properties of epitaxial Fe1− x Cr x -alloy films in the high Cr-concentration regime

Soft magnetic materials with a Curie temperature (Tc) close to room temperature are suitable candidates for device applications and for more fundamental aspects of magnetism. Promising candidates are Fe1−xCrx-alloys with a Fe concentration of about 25%–35%. We have grown by molecular beam epitaxy methods a number of epitaxial Fe1−xCrx alloys on MgO[100] and MgO[110] substrates, and we report on their structural and magnetic properties in this concentration range, including the dependence of the Curie temperature (Tc) on the concentration, the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, and the development of the magnetic moment.