Laser synthesis and magneto-optics of thin films of amorphous magnetics

Nonequilibrium laser ablation of a five-component amorphous Fe — Co — Ni — Si — B magnetic ribbon was used to prepare thin magnetic films. An optical method was developed for investigating the magnetic properties of thin films on the basis of the magneto-optical Kerr effect. The composition of the films was the same as that of the original amorphous ribbons, the optical quality of the surfaces of these films and the magnetic properties was good, and some of the parameters (saturation field, shape of the hysteresis loops) were superior to the properties of the original ribbons. The films are promising as erasable materials for magnetic recording and optical retrieval of data, and also for integrated magnetoimpedance sensors.