Weak ferromagnetism and short range polar order in NaMnF$_3$ thin films

TL;DR

This study investigates NaMnF3 thin films, revealing weak ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetic order, and evidence of short-range polar order and relaxor-like dielectric behavior.

Contribution

It demonstrates the growth of high-quality NaMnF3 thin films and provides experimental evidence of weak ferromagnetism and short-range polar order in these films.

Findings

Weak ferromagnetism observed below 66 K

Presence of super-dipoles indicating relaxor-like behavior

Order-disorder phase transition at 8 K

Abstract

The orthorhombically distorted perovskite NaMnF$_{3}$ has been predicted to become ferroelectric if an $a=c$ distortion of the bulk $Pnma$ structure is imposed. In order to test this prediction, NaMnF$_{3}$ thin films were grown on SrTiO$_{3}$ (001) single crystal substrates via molecular beam epitaxy. The best films were smooth and single phase with four different twin domains. In-plane magnetization measurements revealed the presence of antiferromagnetic ordering with weak ferromagnetism below the N\'eel temperature $T_N=66$ K. For the dielectric studies, NaMnF$_{3}$ films were grown on a 30 nm SrRuO$_{3}$ (001) layer used as a bottom electrode grown via pulsed laser deposition. The complex permittivity as a function of frequency indicated a strong Debye-like relaxation contribution characterized by a distribution of relaxation times. A power-law divergence of the characteristic relaxation time revealed an order-disorder phase transition at 8 K. The slow relaxation dynamics indicated the formation of super-dipoles (superparaelectric moments) that extend over several unit cells, similar to polar nanoregions of relaxor ferroelectrics.