k.p subband structure of the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface

TL;DR

This paper develops a 6-band k.p model to analyze the subband structure of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures, revealing anisotropic non-parabolic bands and matching experimental quantum oscillation data.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed k.p Hamiltonian with parameters derived from density functional calculations for LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces, advancing understanding of their electronic structure.

Findings

Identified strongly anisotropic, non-parabolic subbands.

Calculated density of states and magnetic levels.

Matched theoretical results with experimental quantum oscillations.

Abstract

Heterostructures made of transition metal oxides are new tailor-made materials which are attracting much attention. We have constructed a 6-band k.p Hamiltonian and used it within the envelope function method to calculate the subband structure of a variety of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures. By use of density functional calculations, we determine the k.p parameters describing the conduction band edge of SrTiO3: the three effective mass parameters, L=0.6104 eV AA^2, M=9.73 eV AA^2, N=-1.616 eV AA^2, the spin orbit splitting Delta_SO=28.5 meV and the low temperature tetragonal distortion energy splitting Delta_T=2.1 meV. For confined systems we find strongly anisotropic non-parabolic subbands. As an application we calculate bands, density of states and magnetic energy levels and compare the results to Shubnikov-de Haas quantum oscillations observed in high magnetic fields. For typical heterostructures we find that electric field strength at the interface of F = 0.1 meV/AA for a carrier density of 7.2 10^{12} cm^-2 results in a subband structure that is similar to experimental results.