Induced and surface anisotropies in amorphous YCo3films

Induced K
u
and surface K
s
anisotropies in sputtered amorphous YCo
3
films have been investigated by ferromagnetic resonance and static measurements. YCo
3
is chosen for its simplicity as Co is the only magnetic atom. K
u
was studied as a function of deposition parameters, thickness and substrate material. K
u
is in the range 2-8.10
⁴
erg.cm
^-3
and it increases with bias voltage and substrats temperature which is explained as due to Co-Co pair formation. Surface resonance mode indicates the presence of a surface layer with an in plane anisotropy which forms in the initial stage of deposition process. The magnetic properties of surface layer and its effective thickness is studied as a function of temperature.