Dielectric behaviour of dysprosium oxide films

The dielectric properties of vacuum-deposited dysprosium oxide films have been studied in the audio-frequency range (10²–10⁴ Hz) at various temperatures (78–373 K). The dielectric constant (6.7) was independent of film thickness for thicker films (d > 1000 Å). The capacitance was dependent both on temperature and frequency, but became constant for all frequencies at low temperature. Tan δ showed a frequency minimum and its variation with frequency and temperature was in agreement with the model proposed earlier by Goswami and Goswami. The breakdown field (≌10⁶ V cm^-1) followed the Forlani-Minnaja relation. The activation energy and the refractive index of these films were also measured.