  Combining He ion irradiation and thermal mobility below 600K, we both trigger
and control the transformation from chemical disorder to order in thin films of
an intermetallic ferromagnet (FePd). Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations show how
the initial directional short range order determines order propagation.
Magnetic ordering perpendicular to the film plane was achieved, promoting the
initially weak magnetic anisotropy to the highest values known for FePd films.
This post-growth treatment should find applications in ultrahigh density
magnetic recording.
