Dependence of magnetic properties on laser ablation conditions for epitaxial La0.6Sr0.4MnO3 thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract

Epitaxial La0.6Sr0.4MnO3 (LSMO) thin films were grown by pulsed laser deposition. Relationships between magnetic properties of LSMO epitaxial thin films and ablation conditions such as ablated spot area and total incident laser energy in a pulsed laser deposition technique were studied. Ablated spot area was controlled by changing the focus lens position and total laser energy. Epitaxial growth mode and magnetic properties of LSMO thin films were strongly dependent on the ablated spot area and total laser energy. Under the optimal laser ablation condition, epitaxial LSMO films with Curie temperature of about 340 K and atomically flat surfaces were obtained. © 2009 The Japan Institute of Metals.