Magnetization reversal in micron-sized stripes of epitaxial (110)YFe2 films

In this paper, YFe2(110) single crystal films with Laves phase structure were grown on sapphire substrates by molecular beam epitaxy, and its magenization reversal was investigated by magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements. Results show that the film's magnetic behavior is governed by the combined effect of induced shape anisotropy and intrinsic four-fold magneto-crystalline anisotropy. A dominant uniaxial in-plane anisotropy can be created by geometrical effects.