Investigating giant directional asymmetry in superconductivity and magnetoresistance of Iridate/Cuprate heterostructures using X-ray absorpt

With X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) at the Ir-L edge, we want to investigate heterostructures made from the cuprate high Tc superconductor YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) and Sr2IrO4 (SIO) that is a weak Mott-insulator with AF order and strong spin-orbit coupling. In particular, we will study how the charge transfer and orbital reconstruction at the YBCO/SIO interface influences the electronic/magnetic ground states. This information will provide important clues about the mechanism of the anomalous spin/charge coupling at the YBCO/SIO interface that results in a giant directional asymmetry of the superconducting and magneto-resistive response. In combination with XAS experiments at the Cu-L3 edge, we will be able to understand the magnetic and superconducting proximity effects at these interfaces.