Magnetic Properties of SrRuO₃Thin Films Having Different Crystal Symmetries

This study examined the effect of various types of epitaxial strain on the magnetic properties of $SrRuO_3$ thin films. Epitaxial $SrTiO_3$ (001), $SrTiO_3$ (110), and $SrTiO_3$ (111) substrates were used to apply different crystal symmetries to the grown films. The films were grown using pulsed laser deposition. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the films grown under optimum conditions showed very clear peaks for the $SrRuO_3$ film and $SrTiO_3$ substrates. The saturated magnetic moment at 5 K after 7 Tesla field cooling was $1.2-1.4\;{\mu}_B$/Ru. The magnetic easy axis for all three types of films was along the surface normal. The magnetic transition temperature for the $SrRuO_3$ film with lower symmetry was slightly larger than the $SrRuO_3$ film with higher symmetry.