Emergent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy at the interface of an oxide heterostructure

Abstract

Controlling the magnetic anisotropy in magnetic oxides is critical for the development of oxide spintronics. Here we report on the finding of an emergent interfacial magnetism, with unique perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), at the interface of a half-doped manganite ${\mathrm{La}}_{1/2}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{1/2}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ film on $\mathrm{LaAl}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ substrate, through combined electron spin resonance measurements and density functional theory calculations. The interfacial magnetism can be explained by the $3{d}_{3{z}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{r}^{2}}$ orbital-mediated ferromagnetic exchange interaction between Mn ions near the interface, which is enhanced by the compressive strain from the substrate. Our results provide a useful PMA system for possible spintronic applications, as well as atomistic-level insight to the magnetic anisotropy in strained manganite oxide interfaces.