Ferromagnetic SrRuO3 thin-film deposition on a spin-triplet superconductor Sr2RuO4 with a highly conducting interface

Abstract

Ferromagnetic SrRuO3 thin films are deposited on the ab surface of single crystals of the spin-triplet superconductor (TSC) Sr2RuO4 as substrates using pulsed laser deposition. The films are under a severe in-plane compressive strain. Nevertheless, the films exhibit ferromagnetic order with the easy axis along the c-direction below the Curie temperature of 158 K. The electrical transport reveals that the SrRuO3/Sr2RuO4 interface is highly conducting, in contrast with the interface between other normal metals and the ab surface of Sr2RuO4. Our results stimulate investigations on proximity effects between a ferromagnet and a TSC.