Early-stage growth behavior of laser ablated epitaxial SrRuO3 thin films on SrTiO3(001)

Abstract

Microstructural changes in epitaxial SrRuO3 films grown on SrTiO3(001) during early stages of growth by pulsed laser deposition were studied mainly using synchrotron x-ray scattering. At a very early stage of growth, the film is composed of a single (110) domain, in contrast to double (110) domains in later stages of growth. This domain evolution appears to be closely linked to a significant enhancement of crystalline ordering in the in-plane direction.