Symmetrical interfacial reconstruction and magnetism in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3/YBa2Cu3O7/La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 heterostructures

Abstract

We have analyzed the interface structure and composition of La0.7Ca0.3MnO3/YBa2Cu3O7/La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 trilayers by combined polarized neutron reflectometry, aberration-corrected microscopy, and atomic column resolution electron-energy-loss spectroscopy and x-ray absorption with polarization analysis. We find the same stacking sequence at both top and bottom cuprate interfaces. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism experiments show that both cuprate interfaces are magnetic with a magnetic moment induced in Cu atoms as expected from symmetric Mn-O-Cu superexchange paths. These results supply a solid footing for the applicability of recent theories explaining the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity in this system in terms of the induced Cu spin polarization at both interfaces [J. Salafranca and S. Okamoto, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 256804 (2010)].