Nonlinear Magneto-Optical Kerr Rotation of an Oxide Superlattice with Artificially Broken Symmetry

Simultaneously broken time-reversal and spatial-inversion symmetries can be realized in the epitaxially grown oxide "tricolor" superlattices composed of three sequential kinds of perovskite layers including a ferromagnetic one (manganese oxide). As a generic feature of such a system, the magnetic-field-induced second-harmonic generation and the resultant Kerr rotation of second-harmonic light were demonstrated. The signal intensity probes the interface magnetization of the superlattice, where temperature variation is shown to be distinct from the bulk feature.