Metal-insulator transition and its relation to magnetic structure in (LaMnO{sub 3}){sub 2n}/(SrMnO{sub 3}){sub n} superlattices.

Journal Article · Fri Jun 27 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Phys. Rev. Lett.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.257203· OSTI ID:935943

Bhattacharya, A; May, S J; Warusawithana, M; Zhai, X; Jiang, B; Zuo, J -M; Fitzsimmons, M R; Bader, S D; Eckstein, J N; LANL,

Superlattices of (LaMnO{sub 3}){sub 2n}/(SrMnO{sub 3}){sub n} (1 {le} n {le} 5), composed of the gapped insulators LaMnO{sub 3} and SrMnO{sub 3}, undergo a metal-insulator transition as a function of n, being metallic for n {le} 2 and insulating for n {ge} 3. Measurements of transport, magnetization, and polarized neutron reflectivity reveal that the ferromagnetism is relatively uniform in the metallic state, and is strongly modulated in the insulating state, being high in LaMnO{sub 3} and suppressed in SrMnO{sub 3}. The modulation is consistent with a Mott transition driven by the proximity between the (LaMnO{sub 3})/(SrMnO{sub 3}) interfaces. The insulating state for n {ge} 3 obeys variable range hopping at low temperatures. We suggest that this is due to states at the Fermi level that emerge at the (LaMnO{sub 3})/(SrMnO{sub 3}) interfaces and are localized by disorder.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 935943
• Report Number(s): ANL/MSD/JA-62250
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett., Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett. Journal Issue: Jun. 27, 2008 Vol. 100; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
FERMI LEVEL
FERROMAGNETISM
MAGNETIZATION
MODULATION
NEUTRONS
REFLECTIVITY
SUPERLATTICES
TRANSPORT