Two-dimensional magnetic and superconducting phases in metal-insulator La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4) superlattices measured by muon-spin rotation

Phys Rev Lett. 2011 Jun 10;106(23):237003. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.237003. Epub 2011 Jun 8.

Abstract

We show, by means of low-energy muon-spin rotation measurements, that few-unit-cells thick La(2)CuO(4) layers synthesized digitally by molecular beam epitaxy are antiferromagnetically ordered. Below a thickness of about 5 CuO(2) layers the long-range ordered state breaks down, and a magnetic state appears with enhanced quantum fluctuations and a reduced spin stiffness. This magnetic state can exist in close proximity (few Å) to high-temperature superconducting layers, without transmitting supercurrents.