Abstract
Perpendicular magnetization and Kerr effects of epitaxial CrPtx films have been studied as functions of the crystal orientation, alloy composition, and growth temperature. The orientation dependence studies reveal that only the (111)-oriented CrPtx films possess perpendicular magnetization, while the (311) and (100) films are magnetized in plane. The composition and temperature dependencies show that the CrPtx films possess optimal perpendicular magnetization and Kerr effect at x∼3 and growth temperature ∼850±25 °C. Anisotropic ordering parameter along the (nearly) in-plane and plane-normal directions was observed. The optimal composition and temperature conditions are accompanied by the highest plane-normal L 12 ordering parameter. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.