Observation of antiferromagnetic domains in epitaxial thin films

Antiferromagnetic domains in an epitaxial thin film, LaFeO3 on SrTiO3(100), were observed using a high-spatial-resolution photoelectron emission micro scope with contrast generated by the large x-ray magnetic Linear dichroism effect at the multiplet-split L edge of Fe. The antiferromagnetic domains a re linked to 90 degrees twinned crystallographic regions in the film. The N eel temperature of the thin film is reduced by 70 kelvin relative to the bu lk material, and this reduction is attributed to epitaxial strain. These st udies open the door for a microscopic understanding of the magnetic couplin g across antiferromagnetic-ferromagnetic interfaces.