Quantifying interlayer exchange coupling via layer-resolved hysteresis loops in antiferromagnetically coupled manganite/nickelate superlattices

Abstract

In superlattices made of a half metallic ferromagnet La2/3Ba1/3MnO3(LBMO) and a metallic paramagnet LaNiO3(LNO), the field dependence of the LBMO magnetization was studied using depth- and element-sensitive x-ray resonant magnetic scattering measurements. The superlattices have ten bilayers of LBMO and LNO, and the LBMO layers were antiferromagnetically coupled across LNO spacer layers. From the x-ray measurements, the magnetic hysteresis loop of each LBMO layer was obtained, and subsequently the obtained layer-resolved LBMO hysteresis loops were utilized to determine the interlayer exchange coupling.