Electron leakage and double-exchange ferromagnetism at the interface between a metal and an antiferromagnetic insulator: CaRuO3/CaMnO3.

Density-functional electronic structure studies of a prototype interface between a paramagnetic metal and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) insulator (CaRuO(3)/CaMnO(3)) reveal the exponential leakage of the metallic electrons into the insulator side. The leaked electrons in turn control the magnetism at the interface via the ferromagnetic (FM) Anderson-Hasegawa double exchange, which competes with the AFM superexchange of the bulk CaMnO3. The competition produces a FM interfacial CaMnO3 layer (possibly canted); but beyond this layer, the electron penetration is insufficient to alter the bulk magnetism.