Decoupled magnetic and electrical switching in manganite trilayer

TL;DR

This study investigates a manganite trilayer where magnetic and electrical switching behaviors are decoupled, revealing phase separation effects and distinct magnetic and electrical transition characteristics.

Contribution

It demonstrates the decoupling of magnetic and electrical switching in a manganite trilayer, highlighting phase separation and anisotropic magnetic properties.

Findings

Magnetic and electrical switching are decoupled in the trilayer.

Phase separation influences magnetic isotropy of the middle layer.

Distinct magnetic and electrical transition behaviors are observed.

Abstract

We report magnetic and electrical transport studies of an epitaxially grown trilayer thin film structure comprising La0.59Ca0.41MnO3 sandwiched between La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 electrodes. Since La0.59Ca0.41MnO3 lies at the edge of the thin film ferromagnetic metallic phase field, phase separation effects are expected. These effects can explain the observed magnetic isotropy of the middle layer. By contrast, the electrode material is magnetically uniaxial. Easy axis magnetic field sweeps of the trilayer produce two sharp magnetic transitions, but only one sharp transition in current-in-plane resistance measurements.