LaAlO3/SrTiO3 ad LaTiO3/SrTiO3 interfaces are known to host a strongly inhomogeneous (nearly) two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). In this work we present three unconventional electronic mechanisms of electronic phase separation (EPS) in a 2DEG as a possible source of inhomogeneity in oxide interfaces. Common to all three mechanisms is the dependence of some (interaction) potential on the 2DEG's density. We first consider a mechanism resulting from a sizable density-dependent Rashba spin-orbit coupling. Next, we point out that an EPS may also occur in the case of a density-dependent superconducting pairing interaction. Finally, we show that the confinement of the 2DEG to the interface by a density-dependent, self-consistent electrostatic potential can by itself cause an EPS.
@article{arxiv.1502.07561,
title = {Possible mechanisms of electronic phase separation in oxide interfaces},
author = {N. Bovenzi and F. Finocchiaro and N. Scopigno and D. Bucheli and S. Caprara and G. Seibold and M. Grilli},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1502.07561},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
4 pages and 4 figures, Proceedings of the International Conference "Superstripes 2014", 25-31 July 2015, Erice, Italy