Microstructure and magnetic properties of (001) textured L 1 0 FePt films on amorphous glass substrate

•Structural, microstructural and magnetic properties of FePt thin films deposited on a glass substrate were investigated by varying the FePt sputter pressure and deposition temperature, by using only 30-nm thick Cr as an underlayer and MgO as a seed layer.•The main achievement of this work is the development of a thin film fabrication process below 400°C for depositing highly textured L10 FePt films.•The reversal mechanism of the optimized sample was also investigated, and the analysis indicated that the magnetization reversal is highly incoherent due to inter-island coupling (magnetostatic and/or exchange).•Our results provide useful information on the growth onto glass substrates of FePt films with perpendicular anisotropy and low temperature deposition conditions, which are relevant for a variety of technological applications, such as magnetic recording and spintronic devices.