Spin stripe order and superconductivity in layered transition metal oxides

In this work we present muSR experiments to examine spin stripe order in layered nickelate and cuprate systems. We discuss the signature of static spin stripe order in a zero field (ZF) muSR experiment. In the nickelate La1.67Sr0.33NiO4 well separated signals from the antiferromagnetic (AF) domains and the domain walls are identified, whereas in Nd and Eu doped La2-xSrxCuO4 one asymmetrically broadened line is found. In both systems we observe slow fluctuations of the charge stripes. By changing the rare-earth and Sr doping levels in La2-x-yREySrxCuO4 we prove the strong correlation of static spin stripe order with the structural distortion in the low temperature tetragonal (LTT) phase, and demonstrate the competition of static spin stripe order with bulk superconductivity. Finally, evidence for a similar magnetic inhomogeneity in the electron doped high-T-C cuprate Pr2-xCexCuO4 is presented.