Polar domain walls trigger magnetoelectric coupling

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that polar domain walls in SrTiO3 can be electrically tuned to induce significant and controllable changes in the magnetic properties of an adjacent layer, revealing a new mechanism for magnetoelectric coupling.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach where electric control of ferroelastic domain walls in SrTiO3 modulates the magnetic domain structure of a neighboring layer, enabling tunable interfacial properties.

Findings

Electric tuning of domain walls alters magnetic domain structures.

Polar domain walls can trigger macroscopic responses in adjacent layers.

Demonstrates a new pathway for magnetoelectric coupling via domain wall manipulation.

Abstract

Interface physics in oxide heterostructures is pivotal in material's science. Domain walls (DWs) in ferroic systems are examples of naturally occurring interfaces, where order parameter of neighboring domains is modified and emerging properties may develop. Here we show that electric tuning of ferroelastic domain walls in SrTiO3 leads to dramatic changes of the magnetic domain structure of a neighboring magnetic layer (La1/2Sr1/2MnO3) epitaxially clamped on a SrTiO3 substrate. We show that by exploiting the resposiveness of DWs nanoregions to external stimuli, even in absence of any domain contribution, prominent and adjustable macroscopic reactions of neighboring layers can be obtained. We conclude that polar DWs, known to exist in other materials, can be used to trigger tunable responses and may lead to new ways for manipulation of interfacial emerging properties.