Magnetic anisotropy in (110) DyFe2 films

The magnetic properties of (1 1 0) epitaxial DyFe2 films have been studied by SQUID magnetometry at various temperatures, for thicknesses between 50 a nd 1000 Angstrom. At low temperature, the easy magnetization direction is t he same as in the bulk compound, whereas it relates towards [(1) over bar 1 0] at room temperature, because of the occurrence of epitaxial strains. Th e influence of the him thickness on the magnetic anisotropy and on the coer cive filed is also presented. A large increase of the coercive held is obse rved when the thickness decreases. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.