The temperature dependent anisotropy constants of epitaxially grown PrCo5+x

The temperature dependent anisotropy of a highly textured epitaxial Pr–Co film with a single orientation of the crystallographic c-axis along MgO 001 is investigated by measuring angle dependent hysteresis loops at various temperatures. The measured magnetization curves are compared with calculated magnetization curves, which allows for a full analysis of the temperature dependent anisotropy constants of first and second order, K1 and K2 and the determination of the saturation polarization. The analysis reveals that the Pr15.4Co84.6 film undergoes a spin reorientation transition from an easy axis anisotropy to an easy cone anisotropy at 108 K. The room temperature values of K1 and K2 measured for this Pr15.4Co84.6 film are 5.0 MJ m −3 and 0.5 MJ m−3, respectively. The difference to the bulk PrCo5 single crystal values is ascribed to the high Co content of the Pr15.4Co84.6 film. © 2010 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3490204