Magnetic domain configuration of (111)-oriented LaFeO3 epitaxial thin films

Abstract

In antiferromagnetic spintronics control of the domains and corresponding spin axis orientation is crucial for devices. Here we investigate the antiferromagnetic axis in (111)-oriented LaFeO3/SrTiO3, which is coupled to structural twin domains. The structural domains have either the orthorhombic a- or b-axis along the in-plane ⟨11⎯⎯⎯0⟩ cubic directions of the substrate, and the corresponding magnetic domains have the antiferromagnetic axis in the sample plane. Six degenerate antiferromagnetic axes are found corresponding to the ⟨11⎯⎯⎯0⟩ and ⟨112⎯⎯⎯⟩ in-plane directions. This is in contrast to the biaxial anisotropy in (001)-oriented films and reflects how crystal orientation can be used to control magnetic anisotropy in antiferromagnets.