  Perpendicularly magnetized films showing small saturation magnetization,
$M_\mathrm{s}$, are essential for spin-transfer-torque writing type
magnetoresistive random access memories, STT-MRAMs. An intermetallic compound,
{(Mn-Cr)AlGe} of the Cu$_2$Sb-type crystal structure was investigated, in this
study, as a material showing the low $M_\mathrm{s}$ ($\sim 300$ kA/m) and
high-perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, $K_\mathrm{u}$. The layer thickness
dependence of $K_\mathrm{u}$ and effects of Mg-insertion layers at top and
bottom (Mn-Cr)AlGe$|$MgO interfaces were studied in film samples fabricated
onto thermally oxidized silicon substrates to realize high-$K_\mathrm{u}$ in
the thickness range of a few nanometer. Optimum Mg-insertion thicknesses were
1.4 and 3.0 nm for the bottom and the top interfaces, respectively, which were
relatively thick compared to results in similar insertion effect investigations
on magnetic tunnel junctions reported in previous studies. The cross-sectional
transmission electron microscope images revealed that the Mg-insertion layers
acted as barriers to interdiffusion of Al-atoms as well as oxidization from the
MgO layers. The values of $K_\mathrm{u}$ were about $7 \times 10^5$ and $2
\times 10^5$ J/m$^3$ at room temperature for 5 and 3 nm-thick (Mn-Cr)AlGe
films, respectively, with the optimum Mg-insertion thicknesses. The
$K_\mathrm{u}$ at a few nanometer thicknesses is comparable or higher than
those reported in perpendicularly magnetized CoFeB films which are
conventionally used in MRAMs, while the $M_\mathrm{s}$ value is one third or
less smaller than those of the CoFeB films. The developed (Mn-Cr)AlGe films are
promising from the viewpoint of not only the magnetic properties, but also the
compatibility to the silicon process in the film fabrication.
