Creating and manipulating interfacial spin with giant magnetic response in 4f antiferromagnets
Abstract
Creating and manipulating spin polarization in low-dimensional electron systems (such as two-dimensional electron gases) is fundamentally essential for spintronic applications, which is yet a challenge to date. In this work, we establish the metamagnetic phase diagram of 4f antiferromagnetic TbScO3 and reveal its giant magnetic response to sub-tesla magnetic field, which has not been reported thus far. Utilizing this giant magnetic response, we demonstrate that the spin polarization of two-dimensional electron gas in SrTiO3/LaTiO3/TbScO3 heterostructure can be manipulated successfully in aid of interfacial 3d-4f exchange interaction. Remarkably, the hysteretic magnetoresistances of two-dimensional electron gas at the SrTiO3/LaTiO3 interface are entirely determined by the metamagnetic phase transitions of the underlying TbScO3 substrate. Our results pave a novel route to engineer the spin polarization of low-dimensional electron systems in 4f antiferromagnet-based heterostructures.