Mixed spin states for robust ferromagnetism in strained SrCoO$_3$ thin films
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arXiv
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2025
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| _version_ | 1866916877604749312 |
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| author | Zheng, Xiquan Brookes, Nicholas B. Yakhou-Harris, Flora Lyu, Yingjie Zhang, Jianbing Xiao, Qian Jiang, Xinyi Qiu, Qingzheng Li, Qizhi Zhang, Shilong Cai, Xinqiang Yu, Pu Lu, Yi Peng, Yingying |
| author_facet | Zheng, Xiquan Brookes, Nicholas B. Yakhou-Harris, Flora Lyu, Yingjie Zhang, Jianbing Xiao, Qian Jiang, Xinyi Qiu, Qingzheng Li, Qizhi Zhang, Shilong Cai, Xinqiang Yu, Pu Lu, Yi Peng, Yingying |
| contents | Epitaxial strain in transition-metal oxides can induce dramatic changes in electronic and magnetic properties. A recent study on the epitaxially strained SrCoO$_3$ thin films revealed persistent ferromagnetism even across a metal-insulator transition. This challenges the current theoretical predictions, and the nature of the local spin state underlying this robustness remains unresolved. Here, we employ high-resolution resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) at the Co-$L_3$ edge to probe the spin states of strained SrCoO$_3$ thin films. Compared with CoO$_6$ cluster multiplet calculations, we identify a ground state composed of a mixed high- and low-spin configuration, distinct from the previously proposed intermediate-spin state. Our results demonstrate that the robustness of ferromagnetism arises from the interplay between this mixed spin state and the presence of ligand holes associated with negative charge transfer. These findings provide direct experimental evidence for a nontrivial magnetic ground state in SrCoO$_3$ and offer new pathways for designing robust ferromagnetic systems in correlated oxides. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_01284 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Mixed spin states for robust ferromagnetism in strained SrCoO$_3$ thin films Zheng, Xiquan Brookes, Nicholas B. Yakhou-Harris, Flora Lyu, Yingjie Zhang, Jianbing Xiao, Qian Jiang, Xinyi Qiu, Qingzheng Li, Qizhi Zhang, Shilong Cai, Xinqiang Yu, Pu Lu, Yi Peng, Yingying Strongly Correlated Electrons Materials Science Epitaxial strain in transition-metal oxides can induce dramatic changes in electronic and magnetic properties. A recent study on the epitaxially strained SrCoO$_3$ thin films revealed persistent ferromagnetism even across a metal-insulator transition. This challenges the current theoretical predictions, and the nature of the local spin state underlying this robustness remains unresolved. Here, we employ high-resolution resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) at the Co-$L_3$ edge to probe the spin states of strained SrCoO$_3$ thin films. Compared with CoO$_6$ cluster multiplet calculations, we identify a ground state composed of a mixed high- and low-spin configuration, distinct from the previously proposed intermediate-spin state. Our results demonstrate that the robustness of ferromagnetism arises from the interplay between this mixed spin state and the presence of ligand holes associated with negative charge transfer. These findings provide direct experimental evidence for a nontrivial magnetic ground state in SrCoO$_3$ and offer new pathways for designing robust ferromagnetic systems in correlated oxides. |
| title | Mixed spin states for robust ferromagnetism in strained SrCoO$_3$ thin films |
| topic | Strongly Correlated Electrons Materials Science |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.01284 |