Hard X-ray photoemission studies of STO/LAO heterointerfaces

Erik Slooten - March 01 2010

Abstract

In heterostructures made of insulating SrTiO3 (STO) and LaAlO3 (LAO) a polar discontinuity 
at the interface can give rise to a conducting two dimensional electron gas. Conductivity has been observed in 
samples which have an LAO thickness ≥ 4 unit cells. Superconductivity below 200 mK and indications of magnetism 
below 1 K have also been observed.  Here we use hard x-ray spectroscopy to study the Ti2p core level for varying 
thickness of LAO grown on STO substrates and compare our results to those found in literature.