Abstract
We demonstrate tuning of magnetocrystalline anisotropy in high-quality epitaxial films over a range of several thousand Gauss using strain induced by epitaxial growth on substrates of varying lattice constants. Spectroscopic measurements reveal a striking, linear dependence of the out-of-plane anisotropy on the strain-induced tetragonal distortion of the lattice. This anisotropy can be tuned from to , a range sufficient to rotate the easy axis from in plane to out of plane. Combined with its half-metallicity and high Curie temperature, this result implies a broad range of scientific and technological applications for this novel spintronic material.
- Received 7 January 2013
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.147204
© 2013 American Physical Society