Anisotropic stress in window-plated Permalloy thin films

Measurements of stress have been made in window-plated strips of Permalloy with different aspect ratios and the results have been related to finite-element simulations. It is found that the in-plane stresses in the window-plated strips are similar to those expected in strips fabricated from a sheet film with an initial biaxial stress state. The effect of annealing the strips is to increase the difference between the two principle in-plane stresses. The implications of this stress state for the magnetic anisotropy of the strips is discussed.>