High-temperature phase transitions and low-temperature magnetic ordering in SrRuO3 and CaRuO3 ceramics studied using perturbed-angular-correlation spectroscopy

Interfacial ferromagnetism and exchange bias in CaRuO3/CaMnO3 superlattices

We have found ferromagnetism in epitaxially grown superlattices of CaRuO(3)/CaMnO(3) that arises in one unit cell at the interface. Scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy indicate that the difference in magnitude of the Mn valence states between the center of the CaMnO(3) layer and the interface region is consistent with double exchange interaction among the Mn ions at the interface. Polarized neutron reflectivity and the CaMnO(3) thickness dependence of the exchange bias field together indicate that the interfacial ferromagnetism is only limited to one unit cell of CaMnO(3) at each interface. The interfacial moment alternates between the 1 μ(B)/interface Mn ion for even CaMnO(3) layers and the 0.5 μ(B)/interface Mn ion for odd CaMnO(3) layers. This modulation, combined with the exchange bias, suggests the presence of a modulating interlayer coupling between neighboring ferromagnetic interfaces via the antiferromagnetic CaMnO(3) layers.

Electric field gradients at (111)In/(111)Cd probe atoms on A-sites in 211-MAX phases

The method of perturbed angular correlation (PAC) was applied to selected MAX phases with 211 stoichiometry. Radioactive (111)In ions were implanted in order to measure the electric field gradients (EFG) in the key compounds Ti(2)InC and Zr(2)InC to determine the strength and symmetry of the EFG at the In-site. Further PAC studies in the In-free MAX phases Ti(2)AlN, Nb(2)AlC, Nb(2)AsC and Cr(2)GeC were performed to confirm that the In probes occupy the A-site as well. The strength of the EFG, with a quadrupole coupling constant ν(Q) between 250 and 300 MHz in these phases, is quite similar to the ones found in Ti(2)InC with ν(Q) = 292(1) MHz and in Zr(2)InC with ν(Q) = 344(1) MHz, respectively. Different annealing behavior was observed whereas in all cases a linear decrease of ν(Q) with increasing measuring temperatures was found. The experimental results are also in excellent agreement with those predicted by ab initio calculations using the APW+lo method implemented in the WIEN2k code. This study shows in an exceptional manner that (111)In → (111)Cd atoms are suitable probes to investigate the local surrounding at the A-site in 211-MAX phases.

Dynamic lattice distortions in Sr2RuO4: microscopic studies by perturbed angular correlation spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

Applying time differential perturbed angular correlation (TDPAC) spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, we have investigated possible lattice instabilities in Sr(2)RuO(4) by studying the electric quadrupole interaction of a (111)Cd probe at the Ru site. We find evidence for a dynamic lattice distortion, revealed from the observations of: (i) a rapidly fluctuating electric-field gradient (EFG) tensor showing non-Arrhenius relaxation, (ii) an anomalous temperature dependence of the quadrupole interaction frequency, and (iii) a monotonic increase of the EFG asymmetry (η) below 300 K. We argue that the observed dynamic lattice distortion is caused by strong spin fluctuations associated with the inherent magnetic instability in Sr(2)RuO(4).

Electron leakage and double-exchange ferromagnetism at the interface between a metal and an antiferromagnetic insulator: CaRuO3/CaMnO3

Density-functional electronic structure studies of a prototype interface between a paramagnetic metal and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) insulator (CaRuO(3)/CaMnO(3)) reveal the exponential leakage of the metallic electrons into the insulator side. The leaked electrons in turn control the magnetism at the interface via the ferromagnetic (FM) Anderson-Hasegawa double exchange, which competes with the AFM superexchange of the bulk CaMnO3. The competition produces a FM interfacial CaMnO3 layer (possibly canted); but beyond this layer, the electron penetration is insufficient to alter the bulk magnetism.