Ferroelectric Control of Superconductivity in Oxide Interface


  Gal Tuvia  ,  P. K. Rout  ,  Y. Dagan  
Tel Aviv University

SrTiO3 (STO) is a quantum paraelectric - its dielectric constant increases dramatically at low temperatures, but a ferroelectric transition is absent due to quantum fluctuations. Replacing a small amount of Sr atoms with Ca lifts this quantum paraelectricity and gives rise to a ferroelectric phase transition below a Curie temperature that increases with Ca substitution. We show that epitaxial deposition of LaAlO3 polar layers on Ca doped STO gives rise to a two dimensional electron liquid (2DEL) at the interface. The normal state transport properties of the emergent 2DEL exhibit a strong hysteretic behavior with gate voltage indicative of ferroelectricity. Furthermore, at low temperatures, a superconducting transition is observed with hysteretic gate dependence of superconducting properties. We discuss the various effects of ferroelectricity on the superconducting state.