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Critical thickness for itinerant ferromagnetism in ultrathin films of SrRuO3

Jing Xia, W. Siemons, G. Koster, M. R. Beasley, and A. Kapitulnik
Phys. Rev. B 79, 140407(R) – Published 16 April 2009
Physics logo See Synopsis: Every single layer matters

Abstract

Ultrathin films of the itinerant ferromagnet SrRuO3 were studied using the transport and magneto-optic polar Kerr effect. We find that below 4 monolayers, the films become insulating and their magnetic character changes as they loose their simple ferromagnetic behavior. We observe a strong reduction in the magnetic moment which for 3 monolayers and below lies in the plane of the film. Exchange-bias behavior is observed below the critical thickness and may point to induced antiferromagnetism in contact with ferromagnetic regions.

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  • Received 16 March 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.79.140407

©2009 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Every single layer matters

Published 20 April 2009

A critical thickness below which thin films of the metallic ferromagnet SrRuO3 become insulating and lose their ferromagnetic properties has been determined.

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Authors & Affiliations

Jing Xia1,2, W. Siemons1,3, G. Koster1,3, M. R. Beasley1,4, and A. Kapitulnik1,2,4

  • 1Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
  • 2Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
  • 3Faculty of Science and Technology and MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands
  • 4Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA

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Issue

Vol. 79, Iss. 14 — 1 April 2009

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