S. Von Molnar, C.N. Ruy, et al.
Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
Rocksalt structure solid solutions were prepared by coevaporating Eu 2O3 and Tb metal. The films have the general formula Eu1-xTbxO1-yD'Alembertian signy where y, the oxygen vacancy fraction, is given by y=(3x-1)/2. We have also prepared Tb-doped EuS solid solutions where y≅x so we can compare the effects of anion vacancies in both the oxide and sulfide systems. The coercivity, Hc, increases rapidly with Tb doping at about x=0.15 in the sulfide system and x=0.45 in the oxide system. The Hc of both systems falls on a universal curve, however, when plotted vs vacancies/RE (D'Alembertian sign/RE) with the rapid increase occurring at D'Alembertian sign/RE=0.15. This value is close to 1/6 (0.166) which in octahedral coordination corresponds to one anion vacancy/RE. This suggests that the near neighbor vacancy is producing a strong crystal field at the Tb site which causes strong single ion anisotropy and thus a high coercivity. The MO spectra of the oxides show a strong dependence on x. At x=0.25, peaks are observed at 1.5 eV (-3°), 2.2 eV (5.5°), and 2.7 eV (-2°). At x=0.33, the spectra change completely. A narrow peak with a rotation θK=-20° appears at 2.5 eV, dominating the spectrum. The reflectivity, R, goes through a sharp minimum at the same energy (R<1%), possibly causing the enhancement in θK.