Ferromagnetic Domain Structure of La0.78Ca0.22MnO3 Single Crystals

TL;DR

This study uses magneto-optical techniques to investigate ferromagnetic domain structures in La0.78Ca0.22MnO3 single crystals, revealing temperature-dependent domain wall behavior linked to crystal twinning and Jahn-Teller effects.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the correlation between magnetic domains and crystal twin structures in manganite single crystals, highlighting temperature-induced domain wall rotation.

Findings

Domain structures are correlated with twin crystal structures.

Temperature decrease causes significant changes in domain patterns.

Domain wall rotation is linked to Jahn-Teller deformation.

Abstract

The magneto-optical technique has been employed to observe spontaneous ferromagnetic domain structures in La0.78Ca0.22MnO3 single crystals. The magnetic domain topology was found to be correlated with the intrinsic twin structure of the investigated crystals. With decreasing temperature the regular network of ferromagnetic domains undergoes significant changes resulting in apparent rotation of the domain walls in the temperature range of 70-150 K. The apparent rotation of the domain walls can be understood in terms of the Jahn-Teller deformation of the orthorhombic unit cell, accompanied by additional twinning.