Tuning Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy by Oxygen Octahedral Rotations in (La${}_{1-x}$Sr${}_x$MnO${}_3$)/(SrIrO${}_3$) Superlattices

Abstract

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) plays a critical role in the development of spintronics, thereby demanding new strategies to control PMA. Here we demonstrate a conceptually new type of interface induced PMA that is controlled by oxygen octahedral rotation. In superlattices comprised of La${}_{1-x}$Sr${}_x$MnO${}_3$ and SrIrO${}_3$, we find that all superlattices (0$\le$x$\le$1) exhibit ferromagnetism despite the fact that La${}_{1-x}$Sr${}_x$MnO${}_3$ is antiferromagnetic for x$>$0.5. PMA as high as 4$\times$10${}^6$ erg/cm${}^3$ is observed by increasing x and attributed to a decrease of oxygen octahedral rotation at interfaces. We also demonstrate that oxygen octahedral deformation cannot explain the trend in PMA. These results reveal a new degree of freedom to control PMA, enabling discovery of emergent magnetic textures and topological phenomena.

6 pages, 4 figures