Epitaxial strain-induced magnetic anisotropy in Sm3Fe5O12 thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition

► Sm3Fe5O12 thin films were grown on Gd3Ga5O12 substrate by pulsed laser deposition. ► Epitaxial strain due to the lattice mismatch between films and substrates was found to enhance the tetragonality of the films. ► Magnetic anisotropy with the out-of-plane magnetic easy axis was induced in the strained films.