Proximity effects induced by a gold layer on La0.67 Sr0.33 Mn O3 thin films

The authors report about La0.67 Sr0.33 Mn O3 single crystal manganite thin films in interaction with a gold capping layer. With respect to uncoated manganite layers of the same thickness, Au-capped 4 nm thick manganite films reveal a dramatic reduction (?185 K) of the Curie temperature TC and a lower saturation low temperature magnetization M0. A sizable TC reduction (?60 K) is observed even when an inert SrTi O3 layer is inserted between the gold film and the 4 nm thick manganite layer, suggesting that this effect might have an electrostatic origin. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.