Quenched Magnon excitations by oxygen sublattice reconstruction in (SrCuO${}_2$)${}_n$/(SrTiO${}_3$)${}_2$ superlattices

Abstract

The recently discovered structural reconstruction in the cuprate superlattice (SrCuO${}_2$)${}_n$/(SrTiO${}_3$)${}_2$ has been investigated across the critical value of $n=5$ using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS). We find that at the critical value of $n$, the cuprate layer remains largely in the bulk-like two-dimensional structure with a minority of Cu plaquettes being reconstructed. The partial reconstruction leads to quenching of the magnons starting at the $\hat{I}“$-point due to the minority plaquettes acting as scattering points. Although comparable in relative abundance, the doped charge impurities in electron-doped cuprate superconductors do not show this quenching of magnetic excitations.

Accepted for publication in Scientific Reports