Abstract
A metastable structure, hcp Ni <sub>1-x</sub> Fe <sub>x</sub> (0<x<20%), has been epitaxially grown as (1100) films on a Cr(211) plane. The hcp phase of Ni <sub>1-x</sub> Fe <sub>x</sub> films can be grown up to ∼100 Å, above which it transforms to a fcc(211) structure with {111} twins. The hcp Ni <sub>1-x</sub> Fe <sub>x</sub> layers show large magnetic anisotropy due to the magnetocrystalline effect. The magnetic easy axis of the thick fcc Ni <sub>1-x</sub> Fe <sub>x</sub> layers is directed perpendicular to that of the hcp layers because of a strong shape anisotropy effect.