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Strain relaxation induced transverse resistivity anomalies in SrRu O3 thin films

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

L. Miao
N.J. Schreiber
H.P. Nair
B.H. Goodge
S. Jiang
J.P. Ruf
Y. Lee
M. Fu
B. Tsang
Y. Li
Cyrus Zeledon
J. Shan
K.F. Mak
L.F. Kourkoutis
D.G. Schlom
K.M. Shen

Abstract

Here, we report a magnetotransport study of high-quality SrRuO3 thin films with high residual resistivity ratios grown by reactive oxide molecular-beam epitaxy. The transverse resistivity exhibits clear anomalies which are typically believed to be signatures of the topological Hall effect and the presence of magnetic skyrmions. By systematically investigating these anomalies as a function of temperature, field, film thickness, and excitation currents we verify that these anomalies originate from a two-channel anomalous Hall effect arising from magnetic inhomogeneities in the samples and not from an intrinsic topological Hall effect. Using a combination of magnetic circular dichroism, scanning transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and magnetotransport, we discover that strain relaxation effects in the films are the origin of these inhomogeneities. Our results shed light on the recently reported Hall effect anomalies in SrRuO3 thin films and heterostructures and provide an approach to determine whether such anomalies arise from an intrinsic topological Hall effect or from extrinsic mechanisms. © 2020 American Physical Society.

Date Published

Journal

Physical Review B

Volume

102

Issue

6

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85090163437&doi=10.1103%2fPhysRevB.102.064406&partnerID=40&md5=733f942563d441d75af7e2b3e0689b50

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevB.102.064406

Group (Lab)

Jie Shan Group
Kin Fai Mak Group
Kyle Shen Group

Funding Source

1709255
DMR-1539918
DMR-1709255
DE-SC0019414
FA9550-15-1-0474
GBMF3850
DMR-1719875
NNCI-1542081

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