Magnetically asymmetric interfaces in a (LaMnO${}_3$)/(SrMnO${}_3$) superlattice due to structural asymmetries

Abstract

Polarized neutron reflectivity measurements of a ferromagnetic [(LaMnO${}_3$)${}_{11.8}$/(SrMnO${}_3$)${}_{4.4}$]${}_6$ superlattice reveal a modulated magnetic structure with an enhanced magnetization at the interfaces where LaMnO${}_3$ was deposited on SrMnO${}_3$ (LMO/SMO). However, the opposite interfaces (SMO/LMO) are found to have a reduced ferromagnetic moment. The magnetic asymmetry arises from the difference in lateral structural roughness of the two interfaces observed via electron microscopy, with strong ferromagnetism present at the interfaces that are atomically smooth over tens of nanometers. This result demonstrates that atomic-scale roughness can destabilize interfacial phases in complex oxide heterostructures.

5 pages, 4 figures

References in corpus (1)

• Electronic reconstruction at SrMnO3-LaMnO3 superlattice interfaces

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Emergent properties hidden in plane view: Strong electronic correlations at oxide interfaces
• Metal-insulator transition in $(LaMn{O}_3{)}_{2n}/(SrMn{O}_3{)}_n$ superlattices
• Effect of strain on the orbital and magnetic ordering of manganite thin films and their interface with an insulator
• Magnetic and Orbital Order in ($R$MnO${}_3$)${}_n$/($A$MnO${}_3$)${}_{2n}$ Superlattices Studied via a Double-Exchange Model with Strain
• Electron gas at the interface between two antiferromagnetic insulating manganites
• Relaxor characteristics at the interfaces of [NdMnO3/SrMnO3/LaMnO3] superlattices