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arXiv · 1611.00845

Weak ferromagnetism and short range polar order in NaMnF$_3$ thin films

Amit KC·Pavel Borisov·Vladimir V. Shvartsman·David Lederman
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Abstract

The orthorhombically distorted perovskite NaMnF$_{3}$ has been predicted to become ferroelectric if an $a=c$ distortion of the bulk $Pnma$ structure is imposed. In order to test this prediction, NaMnF$_{3}$ thin films were grown on SrTiO$_{3}$ (001) single crystal substrates via molecular beam epitaxy. The best films were smooth and single phase with four different twin domains. In-plane magnetization measurements revealed the presence of antiferromagnetic ordering with weak ferromagnetism below the N\'eel temperature $T_N=66$ K. For the dielectric studies, NaMnF$_{3}$ films were grown on a 30 nm SrRuO$_{3}$ (001) layer used as a bottom electrode grown via pulsed laser deposition. The complex permittivity as a function of frequency indicated a strong Debye-like relaxation contribution characterized by a distribution of relaxation times. A power-law divergence of the characteristic relaxation time revealed an order-disorder phase transition at 8 K. The slow relaxation dynamics indicated the formation of super-dipoles (superparaelectric moments) that extend over several unit cells, similar to polar nanoregions of relaxor ferroelectrics.

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Amit KC, Pavel Borisov, Vladimir V. Shvartsman, David Lederman. 2016-11-02. Weak ferromagnetism and short range polar order in NaMnF$_3$ thin films. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4977421

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