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Dependence of LaAlO<sub>3</sub>/SrTiO<sub>3</sub> Electron Pairing Strength on Crystallographic Orientation

ORAL

Abstract

Recently, it has been shown that superconductivity at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface is essentially 1D in nature, and that the pairing mechanism appears to be linked to the boundaries of naturally formed X, Y and Z ferroelastic domains in SrTiO3 [1]. Here, we investigate the nature of the pairing mechanism in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 nanostructures by examining the electron pairing strength with respect to the crystallographic direction. We write 1D, cross-shaped electron waveguides or “nanocrosses” [2] at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface using conductive atomic force microscope (c-AFM) lithography. The c-AFM lithography and device geometry together defines the X, Y and Z domain boundaries across the nanocross at low temperatures. A sinusoidal dependence is observed as the nanocross is rotated with respect to the crystallographic direction. This characteristic angular dependence helps to constrain and sharpen our understanding of the pairing mechanism at the interface and the role of ferroelastic domain structure.

[1] Y. Pai et al., Physical review letters 120 (14), 147001 (2018)
[2] A. Nethwewala et al., Nanoscale Horizons 4, 1194-1201 (2019)

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Presenters

  • Aditi Nethwewala

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh

Authors

  • Aditi Nethwewala

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh

  • Hyungwoo Lee

    Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin–Madison

  • Jianan Li

    Univ of Pittsburgh, Physics & Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh

  • Megan Briggeman

    Univ of Pittsburgh, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh

  • Yuze Zhang

    Univ of Pittsburgh, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh

  • Tianyi Wang

    Univ of Pittsburgh, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh

  • Jung-Woo Lee

    Univ of Wisconsin-Madison, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin at Madison

  • Chang-Beom Eom

    Univ of Wisconsin-Madison, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Materials Science & Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin at Madison

  • Patrick Irvin

    Univ of Pittsburgh, Physics & Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh

  • Jeremy Levy

    Univ of Pittsburgh, Physics & Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh