Abstract
We study the element-specific magnetic depth profiles of a (YBCO/LCMO) superlattice using soft x-ray resonant magnetic reflectometry (XRMR). This allows us to study the magnetic proximity effect (MPE) that is observed at the YBCO/LCMO interface, characterized by the occurrence of a depleted layer on the manganite side and an induced magnetization in the YBCO. Using the element-specific depth profiling capability of XRMR, we show that the Cu moments per interfacial Cu ion) reside on the YBCO side of the interface and originate from the plane that is located at the interface. We also rule out the possibility that the Cu moments originate from the migration of Cu atoms into the LCMO layer (interdiffusion). Finally, we show that the suppression of the Mn moment on the LCMO side is only partial for the interface of LCMO deposited on YBCO per Mn ion), compared to the complete suppression for the interface of YBCO deposited on LCMO. These differences in the LCMO depleted layers indicate the strong variations in the MPE between the case of YBCO on LCMO and the case of LCMO on YBCO.
- Received 17 September 2015
- Revised 20 October 2015
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.174415
©2015 American Physical Society