The low-temperature resistance of a conducting LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface with a 10 nm thick LaAlO3 film decreases by more than 50% after illumination with light of energy higher than the SrTiO3 band-gap. We explain our observations by optical excitation of an additional high mobility electron channel, which is spatially separated from the photo-excited holes. After illumination, we measure a strongly non-linear Hall resistance which is governed by the concentration and mobility of the photo-excited carriers. This can be explained within a two-carrier model where illumination creates a high-mobility electron channel in addition to a low-mobility electron channel which exists before illumination.
Magnetotransport measurements of charge carriers at the interface of a LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructure with 26 unit cells of LaAlO3 show Hall resistance and magnetoresistance which at low and high temperatures is described by a single channel of electron-like charge carriers. At intermediate temperatures, we observe non-linear Hall resistance and positive magnetoresistance, establishing the presence of at least two electron-like channels with significantly different mobilities and carrier concentrations. These channels are separated by 6 meV in energy and their temperature dependent occupation and mobilities are responsible for the observed transport properties of the interface. We observe that one of the channels has a mobility that decreases with decreasing temperature, consistent with magnetic scattering in this channel.
The hysteretic piezoelectric response in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures can provide important insights into the mechanism for interfacial conductance and its metastability under various conditions. We have performed a variety of nonlocal piezoelectric force microscopy experiments on 3 unit cell LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures. A hysteretic piezoresponse is observed under various environmental and driving conditions. The hysteresis is suppressed when either the sample is placed in vacuum or the interface is electrically grounded. We present a simple physical model which can account for the observed phenomena.
Using polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR) we measured the neutron spin dependent reflectivity from four LaAlO3/SrTiO3 superlattices. This experiment implies that the upper limit for the magnetization induced by an 11 T magnetic field at 1.7 K is 2 emu/cm3. SQUID magnetometry of the superlattices sporadically finds an enhanced moment, possibly due to experimental artifacts. These observations set important restrictions on theories which imply a strongly enhanced magnetism at the interface between LaAlO3 and SrTiO3.
We demonstrate a current tunable Rashba spin orbit interaction in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) quasi two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) system. Anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) measurements are employed to detect and understand the current-induced Rashba field. The effective Rashba field scales with the current and a value of 2.35 T is observed for a dc-current of 200 uA. The results suggest that LAO/STO heterostructures can be considered for spin orbit torque based magnetization switching.
We have investigated the dimensionality and origin of the magnetotransport properties of LaAlO3 films epitaxially grown on TiO2-terminated SrTiO3(001) substrates. High mobility conduction is observed at low deposition oxygen pressures (PO2 < 10^-5 mbar) and has a three-dimensional character. However, at higher PO2 the conduction is dramatically suppressed and nonmetallic behavior appears. Experimental data strongly support an interpretation of these properties based on the creation of oxygen vacancies in the SrTiO3 substrates during the growth of the LaAlO3 layer. When grown on SrTiO3 substrates at low PO2, other oxides generate the same high mobility as LaAlO3 films. This opens interesting prospects for all-oxide electronics.