Regensburg 2022 – scientific programme
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HL: Fachverband Halbleiterphysik
HL 16: Focus Session: Quantum Properties at Functional Oxide Interfaces (joint session DS/HL)
HL 16.4: Talk
Wednesday, September 7, 2022, 10:45–11:00, H17
Orbital engineering in vanadate heterostructures — •Padma Radhakrishnan1, Benjamin Geisler2, Katrin Fürsich1, Daniel Putzky1, Yi Wang1, Sven Ilse3, Georg Christiani1, Gennady Logvenov1, Peter Wochner1, Peter van Aken1, Eberhard Goering3, Rossitza Pentcheva2, and Eva Benckiser1 — 1Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Heisenbergstrasse 1, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany — 2Department of Physics and Center for Nanointegration (CENIDE), Universität Duisburg-Essen, Lothastrasse 1, 47057 Duisburg, Germany — 3Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
A promising approach for the manipulation of quantum states involves the epitaxial stabilization of certain orbital occupations, i.e. orbital engineering. Here we use resonant x-ray reflectometry to extract quantitative depth-dependent x-ray linear dichroism profiles of thin slabs of YVO3 embedded in a superlattice with LaAlO3. Our data reveal an artificial, layered orbital polarization, where the average occupation of xz and yz orbitals at the interface is inverted compared to the central layers of YVO3. We attribute this effect to a combination of epitaxial strain and spatial confinement by LaAlO3. Further, insights from ab initio calculations and scanning transmission electron microscopy indicate that the selection of a suitable spacer layer material, layer thickness of the transition metal oxide, facet of substrate, and sign of strain can together implement a desired orbital polarization pattern. Our study demonstrates the use of orbital engineering as a promising approach for the theory-guided rational design of quantum materials.