Imaging Nanoscale Phase Co-existence in Free-Standing Manganite Films

We propose to use coherent X-ray diffractive imaging (CDI) to image nanoscale domain structures in prepared quasi-2D free standing films of the colossal magnetoresistance manganites La2/3Ca2/3MnO3 (LCMO) and La2/3Sr2/3MnO3 (LSMO). The ability to prepare strain-free films of manganites at thicknesses well below the c-axis coherence length enables new studies on the effect of 2D confinement and low-defect concentrations upon the nanoscale domains of these materials which manifest as significant modifications to their magnetic properties.