On Magnetic Interlayer Coupling and Proximity Effect in a La$_{0.67}$Ca$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$(10 nm)/YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_7$(10 nm) Superlattice

Abstract

We present a study of interlayer coupling and proximity effects in a La$_{0.66}$Ca$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$(10 nm)/YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_7$(10 nm) superlattice. Using element-sensitive x-ray probes, the magnetic state of Mn can be probed without seeing the strong diamagnetism of the superconductor, which makes this approach ideal to study changes in the magnetic properties across the superconducting transition. By a combined experiment using {\it in situ} transport measurements during polarized soft x-ray measurements, we were able to see no noticeable influence of the superconducting state on the magnetic properties and no evidence for magnetic coupling across a 10 nm YBCO layer.