Structurally induced magnetization in a La2/3Sr4/3MnO4 superlattice

A structural transition has been observed in a digital superlattice of La2/3Sr4/3MnO4, which is correlated to a magnetization enhancement upon cooling the sample. The artificial superlattices were grown layer-by-layer using ozone-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Electron diffraction experiments show a phase transition below 150K in nanopatches of the superlattice, which coincides with an enhanced magnetization starting below 110K. Furthermore, atomic scale electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) shows changes in the Mn L2,3 and O K edges, which are related to valence, strain, and the atomic coordination within nanopatches. Atomic resolution image and EELS showing variations of oxygen and lanthanum signature edges in a La2/3Sr4/3MnO4 supperlattice.