  Magnetic anisotropies and magnetization reversal properties of the epitaxial
Heusler compound Co$_2$Cr$_{0.6}$Fe$_{0.4}$Al (CCFA) deposited on Fe and Cr
buffer layers are studied. Both samples exhibit a growth-induced fourfold
anisotropy, and magnetization reversal occurs through the formation of stripy
domains or 90 degree domains. During rotational magnetometric scans the sample
deposited on Cr exhibits about 2 degree sharp peaks in the angular dependence
of the coercive field, which are oriented along the hard axis directions. These
peaks are a consequence of the specific domain structure appearing in this
particular measurement geometry. A corresponding feature in the sample
deposited on Fe is not observed.

Materials Science