Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 167203 (2010)

M. Ziese, I. Vrejoiu, E. Pippel, P. Esquinazi, D. Hesse, C. Etz, J. Henk, A. Ernst, I. V. Maznichenko, W. Hergert, and I. Mertig

Abstract

The magnetic interlayer coupling in La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃/SrRuO₃ superlattices was investigated. High quality superlattices with ultrathin La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ and SrRuO₃ layers were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition. The superlattices grew coherently withMn/Ru intermixing restricted to about one interfacial monolayer. Strong antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling depended delicately on magnetocrystalline anisotropy and intermixing at interfaces. Ab initio calculations elucidated that the antiferromagnetic coupling is mediated by the MnORu bond. The theoretical calculations allowed for a quantitative correlation between the total magnetic moment of the superlattice and the degree of Mn/Ru intermixing.