Separation of the strain and finite size effect on the ferromagnetic properties of La_{0.5}Sr_{0.5}CoO_3 thin films

摘要

The ferromagnetic properties of epitaxial La$_{0.5}$Sr$_{0.5}$CoO$_3$ thinfilms have been studied. The magnetic transition is affected by both strain andfinite thickness. We have used a series of films of different thickness and ondifferent substrates in order to quantitatively determine the change in Curietemperature contributed by each effect. The phase diagram of T$_C$ versusin-plane strain suggests that the ferromagnetic transition temperature issuppressed by tensile strain and enhanced by compressive strain. The generalmethod of separating strain and finite thickness effects should be applicableto any ordering phase transition in thin films.