Ferromagnetic state with large magnetic moments realized in epitaxially strained Sr3Ru2O7 films

Abstract: Technical advancement of oxide molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) has opened new avenues for studying various quantum transport phenomena in correlated transition-metal oxides, as exemplified by the exotic superconductivity of Sr$2$RuO$_4$ and quantum oscillations of SrRuO$_3$. On the other hand, film research of another Ruddlesden-Popper strontium ruthenate Sr$_3$Ru$_2$O$_7$ which exhibits a unique quantum phase related to metamagnetism in bulk systems did not progress well. Here we report the fabrication of high-quality Sr$_3$Ru$_2$O$_7$ thin films by oxide MBE and the observation of a strain-induced ferromagnetic ground state. The change in magnetic exchange coupling evaluated by first-principles calculations indicates a systematic relation between the compression of the $c$-axis length and induced ferromagnetism. Giant epitaxial strain in high-quality films will be a key to a comprehensive understanding of the magnetism in Ruddlesden-Popper strontium ruthenates Sr${n+1}$Ru$n$O${3n+1}$, which sensitively depends on the ratio of in-plane to out-of-plane Ru-Ru distances.