Layer-by-layer epitaxial thin films of the pyrochlore Tb₂Ti₂O₇

Layer-by-layer epitaxial growth of the pyrochlore magnet Tb₂Ti₂O₇ on the isostructural substrate Y₂Ti₂O₇ results in high-quality single crystal films of up to 60 nm thickness. Substrate-induced strain is shown to act as a strong and controlled perturbation to the exotic magnetism of Tb₂Ti₂O₇, opening up the general prospect of strain-engineering the diverse magnetic and electrical properties of pyrochlore oxides.