Strain control of electric and magnetic properties in the iridate heterostructure*

The promising quantum phenomena in Ruddlesden-Popper series iridates (Sr_n+1Ir_nO_3n+1) have made them a playground to study exotic electronic and magnetic properties. The competition between crystal field splitting, Coulomb repulsion, and spin-orbit coupling in comparable energy scales allows minimal structural and electronic perturbations to drastically alter their ground states. While the bulk Sr_n+1Ir_nO_3n+1 crystals offer limited structural flexibility, the choice of the artificially stacked [(SrIrO₃)_n , (SrTiO₃)] superlattices can elevate structural tuning of the competing interactions to a higher degree. In our recent work, we have synthesized a series of [(SrIrO₃)_n , (SrTiO₃)] superlattices with various lattice mismatch. Results from structural characterization, transport measurements and magnetic moment measurement indicate strong structural modulability of macroscopic electronic and magnetic properties in the iridates.