Two-dimensional quantum oscillations of the conductance at LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Dec 3;105(23):236802. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.236802. Epub 2010 Dec 1.

Abstract

We report on a study of magnetotransport in LaAlO3 /SrTiO3 interfaces characterized by mobilities of the order of several thousands cm2/V s. We observe Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations whose period depends only on the perpendicular component of the magnetic field. This observation directly indicates the formation of a two-dimensional electron gas originating from quantum confinement at the interface. From the temperature dependence of the oscillation amplitude we extract an effective carrier mass m* ≃ 1.45 m(e). An electric field applied in the back-gate geometry increases the mobility, the carrier density, and the oscillation frequency.