Microscopy of magnetic transition in a layered manganite La22xSr1+2xMn2O7 (x=0.32)

Abstract
Temperature-dependent magnetic structures in La22xSr1+2xMn2O7 (x=0.32) are derived from real-space observation based on three-dimensional magnetization vector analysis using spin-polarized scanning electron microscopy. Below 80K, a flux closure structure is formed at the ab surface, indicating ferromagnetic inter-bilayer coupling with magnetization along the c axis. The closure domains are turned into larger ones with irregular shapes above 80K. The drastic domain reconstruction results from the change in inter-bilayer coupling to antiferromagnetic one, accompanied by the magnetization inclined toward the ab plane.