Electronic and magnetic properties in strongly correlated heterostructures

We present a theoretical study of a model heterostructure for a Mott insulator sandwiched between two band insulators, motivated by SrTiO3/LaTiO3. Particular emphasis is given on the interplay between magnetism and inhomogeneous charge distributions. Our mean-field analysis of the generalized Hubbard model displays numerous ordered phases in the ground-state phase diagram. In particular, we find a canted antiferromagnetic state near the interface when antiferromagnetic ordering exists inside the Mott insulator. A checkerboard charge ordering proposed previously is also stabilized for large long-range Coulomb interactions. Regarding its origin, we also point out the importance of interlayer spin-mediated interactions. It is further shown that such a strong spin-charge coupling gives rise to pronounced magnetic/charge-order phase transitions in external magnetic fields: a first-order metamagnetic transition and a reentrant charge-order transition with checkerboard pattern. The mechanisms stabilizing these intriguing phases are explored through a detailed analysis of the physical quantities with special focus on the spin-charge interplay.