Low-Temperature Glassy Response of Ultrathin Manganite Films to Electric and Magnetic Fields

The glassy response of thin films of La0.8Ca0.2MnO3 to external magnetic and gated electrostatic fields in a field-effect geometry has been studied at low temperatures. A hierarchical response with irreversible memory effects, non-ergodic time evolution, aging and annealing behavior of the resistance suggest that the dynamics are governed by strain relaxation for both electronic and magnetic perturbations. Cross-coupling of charge, spin, and strain have been exploited to tune the coercivity of an ultrathin manganite film by electrostatic gating.