Epitaxial strain-induced magnetic anisotropy in Sm3Fe5O12 thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition

Sm3Fe5O12 thin films of various thicknesses were grown on a (0 0 1)-oriented Gd3Ga5O12 substrate by pulsed laser deposition. The crystal structure of the films was strongly dependent on film thickness. The lattice was strained for thinner films due to a lattice mismatch between the film and substrate. This lattice strain was relaxed when the film thickness exceeded a critical thickness of around 660 angstrom. It is suggested that the epitaxial strain induces uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with an out-of-plane magnetic easy axis. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.