Magneto-optical properties of La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 ultrathin films

TL;DR

This study investigates the magneto-optical properties of ultrathin La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 films, demonstrating preserved ferromagnetism and structural integrity at nanometer scales, with interface effects influencing Kerr effect amplitudes.

Contribution

It provides experimental and theoretical analysis of magneto-optical spectra in ultrathin La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 films, highlighting the effects of thickness and interfaces on ferromagnetism.

Findings

Room temperature ferromagnetism in 5 nm films

Agreement between experimental and theoretical spectra for 10.7 nm films

Suppression of ferromagnetism due to interface effects at 5 nm

Abstract

Pulse laser deposited La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 ultrathin films on SrTiO3 substrates were characterized by polar and longitudinal Kerr magneto-optical spectroscopy. An agreement between experimental and theoretical spectra was achieved for a 10.7 nm thick film, while a distinction in the Kerr effect amplitudes was obtained for a 5 nm thick film. This points to the slight suppression of ferromagnetism by interface effects. Nevertheless, the room temperature ferromagnetism of the 5 nm thick film was clearly demonstrated. All the studied films exhibit magneto-optical properties similar to single crystals and thick films, which confirms a fully developed perovskite structure even at 5 nm.