Tetragonal distortion induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in (Fe0.5Ni0.5)xRh1−x alloy thin films

•Epitaxial (Fe0.5Ni0.5)xRh1−x alloy thin film were grown on MgO(100) substrate.•The variation of chemical composition was allowed to control the lattice parameter of the crystal.•The tensile strain applied by the MgO substrate leads to enhance perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.•First-principles calculations showed that the strain in the crystal can induce the PMA.