Strain depth profiles in HfO2 (3 nm)/Si(001) prepared by atomic-layer chemical vapor deposition have been measured using high-resolution Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy in combination with a channeling technique. It is found that the Si lattice is compressed in the vertical direction around the interface. The observed maximum strain is about 1% at the interface and the strained region extends down to similar to3 nm from the interface. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.