Hot electron transport in a strongly correlated transition-metal oxide

Abstract

Oxide heterointerfaces are ideal for investigating strong correlation effects to electron transport, relevant for oxide-electronics. Using hot-electrons, we probe electron transport perpendicular to the La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 (LSMO)- Nb-doped SrTiO 3 (Nb:STO) interface and find the characteristic hot-electron attenuation length in LSMO to be 1.48 ± 0.10 unit cells (u.c.) at -1.9 V, increasing to 2.02 ± 0.16 u.c. at -1.3 V at room temperature. Theoretical analysis of this energy dispersion reveals the dominance of electron-electron and polaron scattering. Direct visualization of the local electron transport shows different transmission at the terraces and at the step-edges.