Transition from a uni- to a bimodal interfacial charge distribution in $$\hbox {LaAlO}_3$$/$$\hbox {SrTiO}_3$$ upon cooling

Abstract

We present a combined resonant soft X-ray reflectivity and electric transport study of $$\hbox {LaAlO}_3$$ LaAlO 3 /$$\hbox {SrTiO}_3$$ SrTiO 3 field effect devices. The depth profiles with atomic layer resolution that are obtained from the resonant reflectivity reveal a pronounced temperature dependence of the two-dimensional electron liquid at the $$\hbox {LaAlO}_3$$ LaAlO 3 /$$\hbox {SrTiO}_3$$ SrTiO 3 interface. At room temperature the corresponding electrons are located close to the interface, extending down to 4 unit cells into the $$\hbox {SrTiO}_3$$ SrTiO 3 substrate. Upon cooling, however, these interface electrons assume a bimodal depth distribution: They spread out deeper into the $$\hbox {SrTiO}_3$$ SrTiO 3 and split into two distinct parts, namely one close to the interface with a thickness of about 4 unit cells and another centered around 9 unit cells from the interface. The results are consistent with theoretical predictions based on oxygen vacancies at the surface of the $$\hbox {LaAlO}_3$$ LaAlO 3 film and support the notion of a complex interplay between structural and electronic degrees of freedom.

Irreversible Multi‐Band Effects and Lifshitz Transitions at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Interface Under Field Effect

“…This indicates that major temperature effects are saturated below 20 K. The data presented in Figure 2 substantially confirm experiments that were presented in previous papers. [ 20,22,28 ]…”