ABSTRACT
Devices with tunable magnetic noncollinearity are important components of superconducting electronics and spintronics, but they typically require epitaxial integration of several complex materials. The spin-polarized neutron reflectometry measurements on La1-x Srx MnO3 homojunction arrays with modulated Sr concentration reported herein have led to the discovery of magnetic fan structures with highly noncollinear alignment of Mn spins and an emergent periodicity twice as large as the array's unit cell. The neutron data show that these magnetic superstructures can be fully long-range ordered, despite the gradual modulation of the doping level created by charge transfer and chemical intermixing. The degree of noncollinearity can be effectively adjusted by low magnetic fields. Notwithstanding their chemical and structural simplicity, oxide homojunctions thus show considerable promise as a platform for tunable complex magnetism and as a powerful design element of spintronic devices.
ABSTRACT
We have investigated the structural, magnetic and superconduction properties of [Nb(1.5 nm)/Fe(x)]10 superlattices deposited on a thick Nb(50 nm) layer. Our investigation showed that the Nb(50 nm) layer grows epitaxially at 800 °C on the Al2O3(1-102) substrate. Samples grown at this condition possess a high residual resistivity ratio of 15-20. By using neutron reflectometry we show that Fe/Nb superlattices with x < 4 nm form a depth-modulated FeNb alloy with concentration of iron varying between 60% and 90%. This alloy has weak ferromagnetic properties. The proximity of this weak ferromagnetic layer to a thick superconductor leads to an intermediate phase that is characterized by a suppressed but still finite resistance of structure in a temperature interval of about 1 K below the superconducting transition of thick Nb. By increasing the thickness of the Fe layer to x = 4 nm the intermediate phase disappears. We attribute the intermediate state to proximity induced non-homogeneous superconductivity in the structure.
