Tuning the magnetic anisotropy in LSMO manganite films through non-magnetic nanoparticles

We report the observation of anomalous magnetic anisotropy driven by nonmagnetic ZrO 2 nanoparticles in epitaxial La 2/3 Sr 1/3 MnO (LSMO) films grown on LaAlO 3 (LAO) substrates. The compressive epitaxial strain imposed by the lattice mismatch of substrate and film is tuned by the density of ZrO 2 nanoparticles embedded in the film matrix and affects the magnetic anisotropy as well as the magnetotransport properties. Epitaxial 54 nm thick LSMO thin films with different concentrations of ZrO 2 nanoparticles demonstrate anisotropic hysteresis loops concomitant with anisotropic magnetotresistance behavior. The biaxial epitaxial strain, induced by the substrate/film lattice parameter mismatch is partially relaxed by increasing the density of precipitates and they serve as a tuning parameter for the strain state. We interpret our results by a strain-induced interplay of impurity scattering, weak localization and magnetic domain structure.