In γ-Fe films of the three basic orientations (111), (110) and (100), prepared by epitaxial growth, antiferromagnetic ordering was established at low temperature.

Thin iron films (∼18 Å thick and 90% enriched in 57Fe) were prepared on (001) Cu single crystal substrates. By using Mössbauer spectroscopy it was found that antiferromagnetic ordering begins at around 80 K ± 10 K with average hyperfine fields of about 14–20 kOe at 4.2 K. Additional proof for the existence of antiferromagnetism has been obtained by measurements in a longitudinal external magnetic field. The apparent discrepancy in the literature of ferro- and antiferromagnetic ordering in fcc Fe films is discussed.