Unveiling unconventional magnetism at the surface of SrRuO

Fittipaldi, R.*; Hartmann, R.*; Mercaldo, M. T.*; Komori, Sachio*; Bjrlig, A.*; Higemoto, Wataru; Maeno, Yoshiteru*; Di Bernardo, A.*; 18 of others*

Nature Communications (Internet), 12, p.5792_1 - 5792_9, 2021/10

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26020-5

The layered oxide perovskite SrRuO, which has been intensively investigated due to its unusual properties. Whilst the debate on the symmetry of the superconducting state in SrRuO is still ongoing, a deeper understanding of the SrRuO normal state appears crucial as this is the background in which electron pairing occurs. Here, by using low-energy muon spin spectroscopy we discover the existence of surface magnetism in SrRuO at an onset temperature higher than 50 K. Our observations set a reference for the discovery of the same magnetic phase in other materials.