Abstract
The antiferromagnetic domain structure in LaFeO 3 thin-film epilayers grown on La 0.7Sr 0.3MnO 3 is imaged combining linearly polarized x-ray-absorption spectroscopy with photoemission electron microscopy. Detailed analysis of polarization-dependent domain contrast from magnetic dichroism reveals two sets of symmetrically different antiferromagnetic easy axes in the LaFeO 3 layer along the in-plane 110 and 100 crystalline axes (pseudocubic notation), respectively. We show that extended antiferromagnetic domains can be stabilized selectively for nanowires defined in this perovskite thin-film system along either orientation of the easy axes. The results demonstrate how the equilibrium domain structure of thin-film nanoscale antiferromagnets depend on a combination of substrate symmetry, nanowire dimensions, and in-plane crystalline orientation.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 220410 |
Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
Volume | 84 |
Issue number | 22 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 28 2011 |