MAGNETIC-ANISOTROPY IN (110) EPITAXIAL DYFE2 LAVES PHASE

Laves phase DyFe2 thin films have been epitaxially grown with [110] as the growth direction. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction pat terns confirm the quality of epitaxy and x-ray diffraction measurement s evidence that the films are strained compared to the bulk alloy. Mos sbauer spectroscopy spectra and Kerr rotation measurements show that t he easy magnetization direction varies from [100] at 4.2 K to around [ <(2)over bar 41>] at 300 K. This is consequently different from the bu lk-compound easy axis ([100] from 4.2 K to room temperature). This eff ect is new and can be qualitatively understood if we consider the infl uence of the strains induced by epitaxy on the various energy terms wh ich govern the easy magnetization direction.