Structure and magnetic properties of etched NiFeCo films

The effect of chemical etching on the surface relief of NiFe and NiFeCo films and their magnetic parameters is studied. Electron micrograph analysis shows that during the etching inhomogeneities in the film thickness appear with a period of about 1000 Å and an amplitude of the thickness fluctuations of about 100 Å. This process goes along with the increase of the angular amplitude of the magnetization ripple and coercivity and is well described by Hoffmann's theory. The coercive force component stipulated by pinning of the domain walls on localized defects does not change significantly during the etching.