Imaging Local Magnetic Domain Rearrangement in Strained LaCoO$_3$ Thin Films Using Magnetic Force Microscopy

ORAL

Abstract

Previous studies we have conducted on thin films of lanthanum cobaltate (LCO) under tensile strain have revealed a tendency toward local magnetic domain rearrangement into streak-like configurations near the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition. Moreover, the persistence of these streak-like characteristics to lower temperatures after field-cooling appears to be linked to the strength of the applied magnetic field in which these films are field-cooled. This tendency has not yet been verified for thin films of LCO under compressive strain which could indicate whether this magnetic domain rearrangement is intrinsic to thin film samples of LCO or is merely an effect of tensile strain. Using magnetic force microscopy, we investigate the microscale magnetic properties of a thin film of LCO under compressive strain, prepared by molecular beam epitaxy and deposited on a lanthanum aluminate substrate. We observe these properties across a wide temperature range and compare our results to global magnetic characteristics of this film as measured by a SQUID magnetometer.

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Authors

  • Morgann Berg

    University of Texas at Austin

  • Neliza Leon

    University of Texas at Austin

  • Agham Posadas

    The University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at Austin

  • Alfred Lee

    University of Texas at Austin

  • Jeehoon Kim

    Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Alex de Lozanne

    Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at Austin

  • Alex Demkov

    The University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin