Phase transitions in thin iron-palladium films

Sputtered thin films have the capability of producing a very random distribution of alloying elements within a host element. This study demonstrates the ability of the SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Undulating Interference Device) to measure the Curie temperature of thin films of Pd(1-x)Fe(x). The Curie temperatures of these films were found to be significantly less than bulk samples having the same iron concentration. The Curie temperature, furthermore, showed a systematic shift to higher values as the thickness of the film increased. Magnetic structure below the Curie temperature is revealed in magnetization and a.c. susceptibility curves for x=. 078. For other samples susceptibility data exhibited more sensitivity than magnetization in revealing magnetic detail below the Curie temperature. We attribute some of this magnetic detail to cluster glass behavior.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics

Department dc:contributor.department

Physics

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1982

Author dc:creator

• Mattozzi, Raymond William

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Long, Jerome R.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Bowen, Samuel P.
• Williams, Clayton D.
• Ficenec, John R.
• Indebetouw, Guy J.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/81011

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/81011