Orbital Control of Noncollinear Magnetic Order in Nickel Oxide Heterostructures

A. Frano, E. Schierle, M. W. Haverkort, Y. Lu, M. Wu, S. Blanco-Canosa, U. Nwankwo, A. V. Boris, P. Wochner, G. Cristiani, H. U. Habermeier, G. Logvenov, V. Hinkov, E. Benckiser, E. Weschke, and B. Keimer
Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 106804 – Published 5 September 2013
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Abstract

We have used resonant x-ray diffraction to develop a detailed description of antiferromagnetic ordering in epitaxial superlattices based on two-unit-cell thick layers of the strongly correlated metal LaNiO3. We also report reference experiments on thin films of PrNiO3 and NdNiO3. The resulting data indicate a spiral state whose polarization plane can be controlled by adjusting the Ni d-orbital occupation via two independent mechanisms: epitaxial strain and spatial confinement of the valence electrons. The data are discussed in light of recent theoretical predictions.

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  • Received 3 April 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.106804

© 2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

A. Frano1,2, E. Schierle2, M. W. Haverkort1, Y. Lu1, M. Wu1, S. Blanco-Canosa1, U. Nwankwo1, A. V. Boris1, P. Wochner1, G. Cristiani1, H. U. Habermeier1, G. Logvenov1, V. Hinkov3,†, E. Benckiser1, E. Weschke2, and B. Keimer1,*

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 1, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
  • 2Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Wilhelm-Conrad-Röntgen-Campus BESSY II, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
  • 3Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Colombia V6T 1Z1, Canada

  • *b.keimer@fkf.mpg.de
  • Present address: Physikalisches Institut und Röntgen Center for Complex Materials Systems, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.

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Vol. 111, Iss. 10 — 6 September 2013

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