Variable temperature magnetic force microscopy of La_{2/3Sr1/3MnO3 thin films grown on (LaAlO3)}

The surface magnetic domain patterns of a La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 film grown on a LSAT (001) substrate, where LSAT stands for (LaAlO3)(0.3)(Sr2AlTaO6)(0.7), were observed by magnetic force microscopy (MFM) as a function of the temperature in the 300-360 K range at its remanent state. Magnetic stripe domains showing an up and down magnetic configuration were observed, thus indicating the existence of a small out-of-plane magnetisation component. The domain size was in the order of 300 nm and did not vary with temperature. However the magnetic contrast in the MFM phase images decreased as the temperature increased and vanished as it approached the Curie temperature of the film. MFM measurements were compared with magnetisation vs. temperature curves measured by superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer.