Influence of a magnetic field on the aging rates of island silver films

The authors present the results of investigations carried out on the effect of magnetic field on the aging rates of island silver films deposited on glass substrates held at room temperature in a vacuum of 1 × 10-5 Torr. It is observed that the application of a magnetic field of strength 80 G during and after growth of the island film reduces the aging rate and the effect is more significant for thinner (higher resistance) films. On the basis of the mobility coalescence model it is suggested that the applied field tends to flatten the islands. © 1990 IOP Publishing Ltd.