Development of a novel pulsed laser deposition system for rare earth thin films

Abstract

Due to their unique magnetic, electronic, and optical properties rare earth materials have been extensively studied for many years. However the properties of rare earth thin films have not been as extensively explored due to the difficulty of manufacturing thin films of these highly reactive materials. This thesis will discuss the development and testing of a Pulsed Laser Deposition system capable of depositing multicomponent rare earth thin films. In addition it will also explore the characterization of these films using equipment available at Iowa State University as well as Ames Laboratory. The overarching aim is to extend Ames Laboratory’s already extensive knowledge of rare earth behavior in bulk into low dimensional structures. The goal of this thesis is to provide a benchmark test of functionality for the new deposition system as well as pave the way for future work into the complexities of rare earth thin films.