Tuning magnetic coupling in Sr2IrO4 thin films with epitaxial strain

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • A. Lupascu - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • J. P. Clancy - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • H. Gretarsson - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • Zixin Nie - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • J. Nichols - , University of Kentucky (Author)
  • J. Terzic - , University of Kentucky (Author)
  • G. Cao - , University of Kentucky (Author)
  • S. S.A. Seo - , University of Kentucky (Author)
  • Z. Islam - , Argonne National Laboratory (Author)
  • M. H. Upton - , Argonne National Laboratory (Author)
  • Jungho Kim - , Argonne National Laboratory (Author)
  • D. Casa - , Argonne National Laboratory (Author)
  • T. Gog - , Argonne National Laboratory (Author)
  • A. H. Said - , Argonne National Laboratory (Author)
  • Vamshi M. Katukuri - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • H. Stoll - , University of Stuttgart (Author)
  • L. Hozoi - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • J. Van Den Brink - , Chair of Solid State Theory, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Young June Kim - , University of Toronto (Author)

Abstract

We report x-ray resonant magnetic scattering and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering studies of epitaxially strained Sr2IrO4 thin films. The films were grown on SrTiO3 and (LaAlO3)0.3(Sr2AlTaO6)0.7 substrates, under slight tensile and compressive strains, respectively. Although the films develop a magnetic structure reminiscent of bulk Sr2IrO4, the magnetic correlations are extremely anisotropic, with in-plane correlation lengths significantly longer than the out-of-plane correlation lengths. In addition, the compressive (tensile) strain serves to suppress (enhance) the magnetic ordering temperature TN, while raising (lowering) the energy of the zone-boundary magnon. Quantum chemical calculations show that the tuning of magnetic energy scales can be understood in terms of strain-induced changes in bond lengths.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number147201
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume112
Issue number14
Publication statusPublished - 7 Apr 2014
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas