Growth and Magnetic Properties of Epitaxial Ni2MnGa Based Films

Thin films of magnetic shape memory alloys reveal a high potential for magnetically controlled actuator and sensor applications on a small length scale. We investigate the microstructure of high quality epitaxial Ni(2)MnGa films produced by sputter deposition, using x-ray diffraction, magnetometry, x-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetic circular dichroism. The morphology of the films is characterized using optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy revealing the twinning structure on different length scales. To obtain free-standing films we used soluble substrates and searched for sacrificial layers.