Thin epitaxial and polycrystalline MnzPtl-z films with 0 ::; x ::; 0.38 were prepared by molecular beam epitaxy on (001) SrTi0 3 substrates. RHEED patterns confirm the epitaxial growth of the epilayers on the monocrystalline substrate. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal an anomalous structural strain-induced phase transition from the AuCus to the AuCu structure. The Curie temperature of strained epilayers is enhanced compared to polycrystalline films, while the magnetization is reduced.

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... tization curves for epitaxial films of (001) and (111) orientations are shown. Magneto-optical spectra of (001) oriented MnPts films show a remarkably large Kerr rotation of -0.821> at 1.1 eV.