Magnetic anisotropy control of SrRuO3 films by tunable epitaxial strain

We have investigated the effect of anisotropic structural modification through epitaxial strain on the magnetic properties in an itinerant ferromagnet SrRuO3. For giving tunable and anisotropic in-plane strain, variable thickness CaHfO3 buffer layer and SrTiO3 (STO) (110) substrate were employed, respectively. The strain could be tuned from compressive to tensile along in-plane STO[001](parallel to) direction, while keeping slightly compressive and coherent along another in-plane STO[1-10](parallel to) direction. Magnetic easy axis can always be aligned with elongated lattice direction either parallel or perpendicular to the surface, due to strong spin-orbit coupling. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.