Scanning tunneling spectroscopy study of c-axis proximity effect in epitaxial bilayer manganite/cuprate thin films

TL;DR

This study uses scanning tunneling spectroscopy to investigate the c-axis proximity effect in epitaxial bilayer manganite/cuprate thin films, revealing a very short-range effect consistent with spin-singlet pairing.

Contribution

First microscopic investigation of the c-axis proximity effect in manganite/cuprate bilayers using tunneling spectroscopy, highlighting the short-range nature of the effect.

Findings

No clear superconducting gap observed on LCMO layer at 4.2 K.

Asymmetric conductance spectra characteristic of LCMO were detected.

Results suggest a very short-range proximity effect involving spin-singlet pairs.

Abstract

Recent experimental studies have indicated novel superconducting proximity effects in thin-film heterostructures comprising ferromagnetic manganites and superconducting cuprates. To look for such effects microscopically, we performed scanning tunneling spectroscopy on La$_{2/3}$Ca$_{1/3}$MnO$_3$/YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ (LCMO/YBCO) bilayer thin films. $\emph{c}$-axis oriented films of varying thickness were grown on SrTiO$_{3}$ substrates using pulsed laser-ablated deposition. Heteroepitaxiality of the films was confirmed by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. Tunneling spectra were measured at 4.2 K, and analyzed for signatures of a pairing gap on the LCMO layer. For bilayer samples with LCMO thickness down to 5nm, asymmetric conductance spectra characteristic of single-layer LCMO films were observed, showing no clear gap structures. These observations are consistent with a very short-range proximity effect involving spin-singlet pairs, and difficult to reconcile with longer-range proximity scenarios involving spin-triplet pairs.