Rare earth alloys and compounds as thin films

It is well known that metallic thin films of pure elements, and above all of the transition elements, are complex subjects. In the case of binary or ternary rare earth systems as thin films, which are either amorphous (alloys) or crystalline (compounds), the problems of preparation, of characterization, of crystallization (and/or recrystallization) and above all of determination of the basic physico-chemical laws, are acute. This survey of the literature gives clear evidence that an ideal reproducibility of two or three identical samples is difficult. (Auth.)