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A layer-by-layer epitaxialgrowth up to 227 atomic layers of ferrimagnetic insulator yttrium irongarnet (YIG) thin films is achieved on (110)-oriented gadolinium gallium garnet substrates using pulsed laser deposition. Atomically smooth terraces are observed on YIG films up to 100?nm in thickness. The root-mean-square roughness is as low as 0.067?nm. The easy-axis lies in the film plane, indicating the dominance of shape anisotropy. For (110)-YIG films, there is well-defined two-fold in-plane anisotropy, with the easiest axis directed along [001]. The Gilbert damping constant is determined to be 1.0?×?10-4 for 100?nm thick films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]