Spin-orbit coupling, local magnetism and Kondo scattering at a complex oxide interface*

SrTiO₃-based thin-film heterostructures are a powerful platform for studying a wide array of electronic phases in two dimensions, at high carrier densities. I will discuss our low-temperature electronic transport studies of NdTiO₃/SrTiO₃ interfaces, which reveal an interplay between local ferromagnetic order, Kondo scattering and spin-orbit coupling. As the magnetic field angle is gradually tilted away from the sample normal, the data reveal an intriguing interplay between strong k-cubic Rashba-type spin-orbit coupling and a substantial magnetic exchange interaction from local magnetic regions. The resulting quantum corrections to the conduction are in excellent agreement with existing models and allow sensitive determination of the small magnetic moments (on the order of 10 µ_B per region on average), their magnetic anisotropy and mutual coupling strength. This effect is expected to arise in other 2D magnetic materials systems and could provide a simple yet powerful tool for investigating local magnetism.

References:
1. Xinxin Cai, Yilikal Ayino, Jin Yue, Peng Xu, Bharat Jalan, and Vlad S. Pribiag, Phys. Rev. B 100, 081402(R) (2019).
2. Xinxin Cai, Jin Yue, Peng Xu, Bharat Jalan, and Vlad S. Pribiag, arXiv:2007.01853.