Electronic and Magnetic Properties of the Interface between a doped cuprate Y0.6Pr0.4Ba2Cu3O7 and a colossal-magnetoresistance manganite La2/3Ca1/3MnO3

TL;DR

This study investigates the interfacial electronic and magnetic properties of a doped cuprate and manganite superlattice, revealing charge transfer, orbital reconstruction, and structural effects influenced by Pr-doping and temperature.

Contribution

It provides new insights into how Pr-doping affects interfacial charge transfer, orbital occupation, and structural stability in cuprate-manganite heterostructures.

Findings

Charge transfer occurs at the interface, altered by Pr-doping.

Orbital reconstruction is observed at the CuO2 plane.

Diffuse scattering increases with decreasing temperature, unrelated to superconductivity.

Abstract

The interfacial properties of Y0.6Pr0.4Ba2Cu3O7/La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 superlattices have been studied by resonant soft x-rays and diffuse scattered neutrons. Linearly polarized X-ray absorption at Cu L3 -edge reveals dramatic interfacial changes from the bulk including charge transfer between LCMO and YPBCO and an orbital reconstruction in the interface CuO2 plane. The similarities to the case of zero Pr-doping are due to the strongly hybridized covalent bond between Cu and Mn. However, reduced charge transfer and a more bulk-like interfacial orbital occupation are observed and related to the effect of Pr-doping. Neutron reflectometry measurements reveal a drastic increase in diffuse scattering with decreasing temperature, likely due to buckling caused by the structural phase transition of the SrTiO3 substrate. We observe no evidence that this diffuse scattering is related to the superconducting transition.