Resonant soft x-ray scattering studies of interface reconstructions in SrTiO3/LaAlO3 superlattices

We present resonant soft x-ray scattering studies of Ti 3d and O 2p states at the interfaces of SrTiO3/LaAlO3 superlattices. From reflectivity analyses, focusing on the (003) peak which is forbidden for our ideal superlattice structure, we concluded that the LaO vertical bar TiO2/SrO and the SrO vertical bar AlO2/LaO interfaces have distinct reconstructions, breaking the heterostructure symmetry. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3246788]