Magnetic anisotropy of doped manganite thin films and crystals

Abstract

Magnetic anisotropy of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin films and single crystals has been measured using vibrating sample and torque magnetometry. The magnetic anisotropy of thin films is dominated by strain anisotropy due to the lattice mismatch between the film and SrTiO3 substrate. The two and fourfold symmetries in the (110) and (001) films, respectively, can only be explained by stress anisotropy contributions (Kstress∼8.4×104 ergs/cm3). Magnetic anisotropy of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 single crystals, subject to no external stress, reveals a uniaxial anisotropy in the (100) plane of K1∼1.8×104 ergs/cm3 that can be attributed to magnetocrystalline effects.