Tuning ferromagnetism at room temperature by visible light

Most digital information today is encoded in the magnetization of ferromagnetic domains. The demand for ever-increasing storage space fuels continuous research for energy-efficient manipulation of magnetism at smaller and smaller length scales. Writing a bit is usually achieved by rotating the magnetization of domains of the magnetic medium, which relies on effective magnetic fields. An alternative approach is to change the magnetic state directly by acting on the interaction between magnetic moments. Correlated oxides are ideal materials for this because the effects of a small external control parameter are amplified by the electronic correlations. Here, we present a radical method for reversible, light-induced tuning of ferromagnetism at room temperature using a halide perovskite/oxide perovskite heterostructure. We demonstrate that photoinduced charge carriers from the CH3NH3PbI3 photovoltaic perovskite efficiently dope the thin La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 film and decrease the magnetization of the ferromagnetic state, allowing rapid rewriting of the magnetic bit. This manipulation could be accomplished at room temperature; hence this opens avenues for magnetooptical memory devices.