  We present a synthesis/processing method for fabricating ferrimagnetic
insulator (Bi-doped yttrium iron garnet) thin films with tunable magnetic
anisotropy. Since the desired magnetic properties rely on controllable
thickness and successful doping, we pay attention to the entire
synthesis/processing procedure (nanopowder synthesis, nanocrystalline target
preparation and pulsed laser deposition (PLD)). Atomically flat films were
deposited by PLD on (111)-orientated yttrium aluminum garnet. We show a
significant enhancement of perpendicular anisotropy in the films, caused by
strain-induced anisotropy. In addition, the perpendicular anisotropy is tunable
by decreasing the film thickness and overwhelms the shape anisotropy at a
critical thickness of 3.5 nm.
