75 research outputs found
Electronic inhomogeneity at magnetic domain walls in strongly-correlated systems
We show that nano-scale variations of the order parameter in
strongly-correlated systems can induce local spatial regions such as domain
walls that exhibit electronic properties representative of a different, but
nearby, part of the phase diagram. This is done by means of a Landau-Ginzburg
analysis of a metallic ferromagnetic system near an antiferromagnetic phase
boundary. The strong spin gradients at a wall between domains of different spin
orientation drive the formation of a new type of domain wall, where the central
core is an insulating antiferromagnet, and connects two metallic ferromagnetic
domains. We calculate the charge transport properties of this wall, and find
that its resistance is large enough to account for recent experimental results
in colossal magnetoresistance materials. The technological implications of this
finding for switchable magnetic media are discussed.Comment: Version submitted to Physical Review Letters, except for minor
revisions to reference
Positive exchange bias in ferromagnetic La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 / SrRuO3 bilayers
Epitaxial La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO)/ SrRuO3 (SRO) ferromagnetic bilayers have
been grown on (001) SrTiO3 (STO) substrates by pulsed laser deposition with
atomic layer control. We observe a shift in the magnetic hysteresis loop of the
LSMO layer in the same direction as the applied biasing field (positive
exchange bias). The effect is not present above the Curie temperature of the
SRO layer (), and its magnitude increases rapidly as the temperature is lowered
below . The direction of the shift is consistent with an antiferromagnetic
exchange coupling between the ferromagnetic LSMO layer and the ferromagnetic
SRO layer. We propose that atomic layer charge transfer modifies the electronic
state at the interface, resulting in the observed antiferromagnetic interfacial
exchange coupling.Comment: accepted to Applied Physics Letter
Localization of Two-dimensional Electron Gas in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures
We report strong localization of 2D electron gas in LaAlO3 / SrTiO3 epitaxial
thin-film heterostructures grown on (LaAlO3)0.3-(Sr2AlTaO3)0.7 substrates by
using pulsed laser deposition with in-situ reflection high-energy electron
diffraction. Using longitudinal and transverse magnetotransport measurements,
we have determined that disorder at the interface influences the conduction
behavior, and that increasing the carrier concentration by growing at lower
oxygen partial pressure changes the conduction from strongly localized at low
carrier concentration to metallic at higher carrier concentration, with
indications of weak localization. We interpret this behavior in terms of a
changing occupation of Ti 3d bands near the interface, each with a different
spatial extent and susceptibility to localization by disorder, and differences
in carrier confinement due to misfit strain and point defects.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure
Conductance asymmetry in point-contacts on epitaxial thin films of Ba(FeCo)As
Point-contact spectroscopy is a powerful tool for probing superconductors.
One of the most common observations in the point-contact spectra on the
recently discovered ferropnictide superconductors is a large conductance
asymmetry with respect to voltage across the point-contact. In this paper we
show that the antisymmetric part of the point-contact spectrum between a silver
tip and an epitaxial thin film of Ba(FeCo)As shows
certain unique features. These features have an interesting evolution with
increasing temperature up to a temperature that is 30% larger than the critical
temperature of the superconductor. We argue that this evolution can be
associated with the rich normal state properties of these materials.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Structure of the superconducting state in a fully frustrated wire network with dice lattice geometry
The superconducting state in a fully frustrated wire network with the dice
lattice geometry is investigated in the vicinity of the transition temperature.
Using Abrikosov's variational procedure, we write the Ginzburg-Landau free
energy functional projected on its unstable supspace as an effective model on
the triangular lattice of sixfold coordinated sites. For this latter model, we
obtain a large class of degenerate equilibrium configurations in one to one
correspondence with those previously constructed for the pure XY model on the
maximally frustrated dice lattice. The entropy of these states is proportional
to the linear size of the system. Finally we show that magnetic interactions
between currents provide a degeneracy lifting mechanism.Comment: The final version (as published in Phys. Rev. B). Substantial
corrections have been made to Sec.
Tailoring a two-dimensional electron gas at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (001) interface by epitaxial strain
Recently a metallic state was discovered at the interface between insulating
oxides, most notably LaAlO3 and SrTiO3. Properties of this two-dimensional
electron gas (2DEG) have attracted significant interest due to its potential
applications in nanoelectronics. Control over this carrier density and mobility
of the 2DEG is essential for applications of these novel systems, and may be
achieved by epitaxial strain. However, despite the rich nature of strain
effects on oxide materials properties, such as ferroelectricity, magnetism, and
superconductivity, the relationship between the strain and electrical
properties of the 2DEG at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface remains largely
unexplored. Here, we use different lattice constant single crystal substrates
to produce LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces with controlled levels of biaxial epitaxial
strain. We have found that tensile strained SrTiO3 destroys the conducting
2DEG, while compressively strained SrTiO3 retains the 2DEG, but with a carrier
concentration reduced in comparison to the unstrained LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface.
We have also found that the critical LaAlO3 overlayer thickness for 2DEG
formation increases with SrTiO3 compressive strain. Our first-principles
calculations suggest that a strain-induced electric polarization in the SrTiO3
layer is responsible for this behavior. It is directed away from the interface
and hence creates a negative polarization charge opposing that of the polar
LaAlO3 layer. This both increases the critical thickness of the LaAlO3 layer,
and reduces carrier concentration above the critical thickness, in agreement
with our experimental results. Our findings suggest that epitaxial strain can
be used to tailor 2DEGs properties of the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface
Giant Shapiro Resonances in a Flux Driven Josephson Junction Necklace
We present a detailed study of the dynamic response of a ring of equally
spaced Josephson junctions to a time-periodic external flux, including
screening current effects. The dynamics are described by the resistively
shunted Josephson junction model, appropriate for proximity effect junctions,
and we include Faraday's law for the flux. We find that the time-averaged
characteristics show novel {\em subharmonic giant Shapiro voltage resonances},
which strongly depend on having phase slips or not, on , on the inductance
and on the external drive frequency. We include an estimate of the possible
experimental parameters needed to observe these quantized voltage spikes.Comment: 8 pages RevTeX, 3 figures available upon reques
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