Crystalline symmetry-dependent magnon formation in itinerant ferromagnet SrRuO3

TL;DR

This study investigates how the crystallographic orientation of SrRuO3 thin films influences magnon formation and spin interactions, revealing that orientation-dependent lattice effects can tune magnetic excitations in correlated oxides.

Contribution

It demonstrates the orientation-dependent modulation of magnon formation and spin interactions in SrRuO3 thin films, highlighting the tunability of magnetic properties through crystallographic control.

Findings

Magnon formation is suppressed in (111)-oriented films.

Reduced spin dimensionality occurs in (111) orientation.

Exchange interactions are enhanced in (111) orientation.

Abstract

SrRuO3 (SRO) is an itinerant ferromagnet with strong coupling between the charge, spin, and lattice degrees of freedom. This strong coupling suggests that the electronic and magnetic behaviors of SRO are highly susceptible to changes in the lattice distortion. Here we show how the spin interaction and resultant magnon formation change with the modification in the crystallographic orientation. We fabricated SRO epitaxial thin films with (100), (110), and (111) surface orientations, to systematically modulate the spin interaction and spin dimensionality. The reduced spin dimensionality and enhanced exchange interaction in the (111)-oriented SRO thin film significantly suppresses magnon formation. Our study comprehensively demonstrates the facile tunability of magnon formation and spin interaction in correlated oxide thin films.