Magnetic Anisotropy Induced by Orbital Occupation States in La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 Film

Abstract

Interface engineering is an effective and feasible method to regulate the magnetic anisotropy of films by altering interfacial states between different films. Using the technique of pulsed laser deposition, we prepared La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) and La0.67Sr0.33MnO3/SrCoO2.5 (LSMO/SCO) films on the (110)-oriented La0.3Sr0.7Al0.65Ta0.35O3 substrates. By covering the SCO film above the LSMO film, we transformed the easy magnetization axis of LSMO from the [001] axis to the [1\(\stackrel{\text{-}}{\text{1}}\)0] axis in the film plane. Based on statistical analyses, we found that the corresponding Mn-Mn ionic distances are different in the two types of LSMO films, causing different distortions of Mn-O octahedron in the LSMO film. In addition, it also induces diverse electronic occupation states in Mn3+ ions. The eg electron of Mn3+ occupies 3z2-r2 and x2-y2 orbitals in the LSMO and LSMO/SCO, respectively. We conclude that the electronic spin reorientation leads to the transformation of the easy magnetization axis in the LSMO films.