Atomic ordering kinetics of FePt thin films: Nucleation and growth of L10 ordered domains

To lower the L 10 ordering temperature of FePt thin films, a detailed understanding of the nucleation and growth processes of L 10 ordered domains is of particular importance. In the present study, a nucleation activation energy En = (0.5-0.6) ±0.1 eV and a growth activation energy Eg =0.9±0.1 eV for the L 10 ordered domains in the FePt thin films are determined by studying the individual annealing-temperature dependence of the nucleation and growth parameters of the L 10 ordered domains. These data make a contribution to the understanding of the high L 10 ordering temperature of FePt thin films for manufacturing magnetic recording media. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.