Title: Variable temperature magnetic force microscopy of La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃ thin films grown on (LaAlO₃)_0.3(Sr₂AlTaO₆)_0.7 (LSAT) substrates

Authors: L. Mechin, Ch. Simon, R.A. Chakalov

Addresses: GREYC (UMR-CNRS 6072), ENSICAEN and University of Caen, 6 boulevard du Marechal Juin, 14050 Caen cedex, France. ' CRISMAT (UMR-CNRS 6508), ENSICAEN, 6 boulevard du Marechal Juin, 14050 Caen cedex, France. ' School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

Abstract: The surface magnetic domain patterns of a La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃ film grown on a LSAT (001) substrate, where LSAT stands for (LaAlO₃)_0.3(Sr₂AlTaO₆)_0.7, were observed by magnetic force microscopy (MFM) as a function of the temperature in the 300–360 K range at its remanent state. Magnetic stripe domains showing an up and down magnetic configuration were observed, thus indicating the existence of a small out-of-plane magnetisation component. The domain size was in the order of 300 nm and did not vary with temperature. However the magnetic contrast in the MFM phase images decreased as the temperature increased and vanished as it approached the Curie temperature of the film. MFM measurements were compared with magnetisation vs. temperature curves measured by superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer.

Keywords: manganite; thin films; magnetic domain; magnetic anisotropy; LSAT substrates; magnetic force microscopy; MFM; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2008.018700

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2008 Vol.5 No.6/7/8, pp.818 - 826

Published online: 14 Jun 2008 *

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