Emergent c-axis magnetic helix in manganite-nickelate superlattices

TL;DR

This study uncovers a novel c-axis magnetic helix in manganite-nickelate superlattices, revealing complex magnetic interactions driven by interfacial electron transfer, with implications for spintronic device design.

Contribution

It reports the discovery of a new magnetic helix in nickelate layers within superlattices, driven by interfacial electron transfer, advancing understanding of magnetic order in complex oxides.

Findings

Discovery of a c-axis magnetic helix in nickelate layers.

Interfacial electron transfer alters Ni orbital states.

Magnetic helix mediates 130° coupling between layers.

Abstract

The nature of the magnetic order in (La2/3Sr1/3MnO3)9/(LaNiO3)3 superlattices is investigated using x-ray resonant magnetic reflectometry. We observe a new c-axis magnetic helix state in the (LaNiO3)3 layers that had never been reported in nickelates, and which mediates the ~130deg magnetic coupling between the ferromagnetic (La2/3Sr1/3MnO3)9 layers, illustrating the power of x-rays for discovering the magnetic state of complex oxide interfaces. Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering and x-ray absorption spectroscopy show that Ni-O ligand hole states from bulk LaNiO3 are mostly filled due to interfacial electron transfer from Mn, driving the Ni orbitals closer to an atomic-like 3d8 configuration. We discuss the constraints imposed by this electronic configuration to the microscopic origin of the observed magnetic structure. The presence of a magnetic helix in (La2/3Sr1/3MnO3)9/(LaNiO3)3 is crucial for modeling the potential spintronic functionality of this system and may be important for designing emergent magnetism in novel devices in general.