Magnetic domain structure and magnetic anisotropy in Ga1-xMn(x)As

Large, well-defined magnetic domains, on the scale of hundreds of micrometers, are observed in Ga1-xMn(x)As epilayers using a high-resolution magneto-optical imaging technique. The orientations of the magnetic moments in the domains clearly show in-plane magnetic anisotropy, which changes through a second-order transition from a biaxial mode (easy axes nearly along [100] and [010]) at low temperatures to an unusual uniaxial mode (easy axis along [110]) as the temperature increases above about T(c)/2. This transition is a result of the interplay between the natural cubic anisotropy of the GaMnAs zinc-blende structure and a uniaxial anisotropy which attribute to the effects of surface reconstruction.     

Mn distribution and spin polarization in Ga(1-x)Mn x As

Using the density functional full-potential linearized augmented plane wave approach, the x-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectra of Ga(1-x)Mn x As are calculated. Significantly, XMCD of Mn is highly sensitive to the change in environment, and thus can be utilized to characterize impurity distribution. The nature of Mn-induced spin polarization on Ga and As sites, vital for the carrier mediated magnetic ordering, is discussed in light of computational and experimental results.     

Origin of the tunnel anisotropic magnetoresistance in Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As/ZnSe/Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As magnetic tunnel junctions of II-VI/III-V heterostructures

We investigated spin-dependent transport in magnetic tunnel junctions made of III-V Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As electrodes and II-VI ZnSe tunnel barriers. The high tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio up to 100% we observed indicates high spin polarization at the barrier/electrodes interfaces. We found anisotropic tunneling conductance having a magnitude of 10% with respect to the direction of magnetization to linearly depend on the magnetic anisotropy energy of Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As. This proves that the spin-orbit interactions in the valence band of Ga(1-x)M(x)As are responsible for the tunnel anisotropic magnetoresistance (TAMR) effect.     

Infrared probe of itinerant ferromagnetism in Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As

The doping and temperature dependence of the complex conductivity is determined for the ferromagnetic semiconductor Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As. A broad resonance develops with Mn doping at an energy scale of approximately 200 meV, well within the GaAs band gap. Possible origins of this feature are explored in the context of a Mn induced impurity band and intervalence band transitions. From a sum rule analysis of the conductivity data the effective mass of the itinerant charge carriers is found to be at least a factor of 3 greater than what is expected for hole doped GaAs. In the ferromagnetic state a significant decrease in the effective mass is observed, demonstrating the role played by the heavy carriers in inducing ferromagnetism in this system.     

Mixed magnetic phases in (Ga,Mn)As epilayers

Two different ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transitions are detected in (Ga,Mn)As/GaAs(001) epilayers from ac susceptibility measurements: transition at a higher temperature results from (Ga,Mn)As cluster phases with [110] uniaxial anisotropy and that at a lower temperature is associated with a ferromagnetic (Ga,Mn)As matrix with 100 cubic anisotropy. A change in the magnetic easy axis from [100] to [110] with increasing temperature can be explained by the reduced contribution of 100 cubic anisotropy to the magnetic properties above the transition temperature of the (Ga,Mn)As matrix.     

Observation of giant magnetic linear dichroism in (Ga, Mn) As

Giant magnetic linear dichroism (MLD) is observed in the ferromagnetic semiconductor Ga(0.98)Mn(0.02)As. The contribution to this effect induced by the spontaneous magnetization can be clearly identified by azimuthal dependencies. The spectral dependence of the effect in the range from 1.4 to 2.4 eV shows that the MLD induced by the spontaneous magnetization is strongly enhanced for excitations from the electronic states that are responsible for the ferromagnetism in this material. This spectral sensitivity and the size of the effect makes MLD a powerful tool for the study of (III, Mn)V alloys and similar novel ferromagnetic semiconductors.     

Annealing effect on magnetic anisotropy in ultrathin（Ga,Mn）As

We investigated the effect of low temperature annealing on magnetic anisotropy in 7-nm ultrathin Ga0.94Mn0.06As devices by measuring the angle-dependent planar Hall resistance(PHR).Obvious hysteresis loops were observed during the magnetization reversal through the clockwise and counterclockwise rotations under low magnetic fields(below 1000 Gs,1 Gs = 10-4 T),which can be explained by competition between Zeeman energy and magnetic anisotropic energy.It is found that the uniaxial anisotropy is dominant in the whole measured ferromagnetic range for both the as-grown ultrathin Ga0.94Mn0.06As and the annealed one.The cubic anisotropy changes more than the uniaxial anisotropy in the measured temperature ranges after annealing.This gives a useful way to tune the magnetic anisotropy of ultrathin(Ga,Mn)As devices.     

Nanomechanical measurement of magnetostriction and magnetic anisotropy in (Ga,Mn)As

A GaMnAs nanoelectromechanical resonator is used to obtain the first measurement of magnetostriction in a dilute magnetic semiconductor. Resonance frequency shifts induced by field-dependent magnetoelastic stress are used to simultaneously map the magnetostriction and magnetic anisotropy constants over a wide range of temperatures. Owing to the central role of carriers in controlling ferromagnetic interactions in this material, the results appear to provide insight into a unique form of magnetoelastic behavior mediated by holes.     

Local structure of Mn in (Ga,Mn)As probed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Local structure of Mn atoms in Ga_1−xMn_xAs epilayers was studied using the X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) at Mn K-edge. X-ray near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) techniques were used. XAFS spectra for different Mn sites has been calculated and compared with the experimental data. Multi-parameter fitting of the EXAFS data indicates that 15-25% of Mn atoms are in interstitial sites in the as grown films. The Mn-As bond length has been found longer than Ga-As bond length in GaAs for both substitutional (Mn_Ga) and interstitial (Mn_I) sites.     

Uniaxial strain-dependent magnetic and electronic properties of (Ga,Mn)As nanowires

Variations in magnetic and electronic properties as a function of uniaxial strain in wurtzite(Ga,Mn)As nanowires(NWs) grown along the [0001] direction were investigated based on density functional theory(DFT). We found that(Ga,Mn)As NWs are half-metal, and the ferromagnetic state is their stable ground state. The magnetism of the NWs is significantly affected by the strain and by the substituent position of Mn impurities. By examining charge densities near the Fermi level, we found that strain can regulate the conductive region of the NWs. More interestingly, the size of spin-down band gap of the NWs is tunable by adjusting uniaxial stress, and the NWs can be converted from indirect to direct band gap under tension.     

Magnetic properties of (Ga,Mn)As

A summary of experimental findings and theoretical modelling of micromagnetic properties of zinc-blende ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As is presented. It is shown that the Zener p–d model explains quantitatively observed Curie temperatures in compensation free samples and that major strain-related effects are correctly accounted for, including the presence of the magnetization reorientation transition, observed as a function of hole concentration and temperature. It is evidenced that a presence of a small trigonal distortion could account for both the presence and properties of uniaxial in-plane magnetic anisotropy.     

Anisotropic magnetoresistance components in (Ga,Mn)As

We explore the basic physical origins of the noncrystalline and crystalline components of the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) in (Ga,Mn)As. The sign of the noncrystalline AMR is found to be determined by the form of spin-orbit coupling in the host band and by the relative strengths of the nonmagnetic and magnetic contributions to the Mn impurity potential. We develop experimental methods yielding directly the noncrystalline and crystalline AMR components which are then analyzed independently. We report the observation of an AMR dominated by a large uniaxial crystalline component and show that AMR can be modified by local strain relaxation. Generic implications of our findings for other dilute moment systems are discussed.     

Domain-wall resistance in ferromagnetic (Ga,Mn)As

A series of microstructures designed to pin domain walls (DWs) in (Ga,Mn)As with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy has been employed to determine extrinsic and intrinsic contributions to DW resistance. The former is explained quantitatively as resulting from a polarity change in the Hall electric field at DW. The latter is 1 order of magnitude greater than a term brought about by anisotropic magnetoresistance and is shown to be consistent with disorder-induced mistracking of the carrier spins subject to spatially varying magnetization.     

Variational calculations of ionized-donor-bound excitons in GaAs-Al x Ga 1 - x As quantum wells

Using a two-parameter wave function, we calculate variationally the binding energy of an exciton bound to an ionized donor impurity (D^+,X) in GaAs-Al_xGa_1-xAs quantum wells for the values of the well width from 10 to 300 ?, when the dopant is located in the center of the well and at the edge of the well. The theoretical results confirm that the previous experimental speculation proposed by Reynolds et al. [Phys. Rev. B 40, 6210 (1989)] is the binding energy of D^+,X for the dopant at the edge of the well. In addition, we also calculate the center-of-mass wave function of the exciton and the average interparticle distances. The results are discussed in detail. Received 17 July 2000 and Received in final form 13 November 2000     

Width and temperature dependence of lithography-induced magnetic anisotropy in (Ga,Mn)As wires

In-plane magnetic anisotropy of 40-μm-long (Ga,Mn)As wires with different widths (0.4, 1.0, and 20 μm) has been investigated between 5 and 75 K by measuring anisotropic magneto-resistance (AMR). The wires show in-plane 〈1 0 0〉 cubic and [−1 1 0] uniaxial anisotropies, and an additional lithography-induced anisotropy along the wire direction in narrow wires with width of 0.4 and 1.0 μm. We derive the temperature dependence of the cubic, uniaxial, and lithography-induced anisotropy constants from the results of AMR, and find that a sizable anisotropy can be provided by lithographic means, which allows us to control and detect the magnetization reversal process by choosing the direction of the external magnetic fields.     

Curie温度附近稀磁半导体(Ga,Mn)As的电学噪声谱性质

建立了自发噪声谱测量系统来研究稀磁半导体（Ga,Mn）As的电学噪声性质.通过测量（Ga,Mn）As材料的自发噪声谱,发现（Ga,Mn）As的自发涨落会随温度升高而逐渐增大,同时,外加磁场会降低（Ga,Mn）As的自发涨落,这来源于外加磁场导致的（Ga,Mn）As磁畴部分有序化.此外,不同频率的噪声随温度的变化规律有很大差异：当频率低于30 kHz的时候,噪声谱和温度的变化关系和热噪声很相似,但数值上明显大于热噪声的值;当频率在30 kHz左右的时候,噪声大小和温度成线性关系;当频率大于30 kHz以后,在相变点附近噪声大小和温度的关系出现了明显的转折,高频高温噪声的大小和热噪声的理论值非常接近.这些结果有助于深入理解（Ga,Mn）As磁性起源的物理机制. 关键词： 自旋电子学 稀磁半导体 自发涨落谱     

Current-driven magnetization reversal in a ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As/GaAs/(Ga,Mn)As tunnel junction

Current-driven magnetization reversal in a ferromagnetic semiconductor based (Ga,Mn)As/GaAs/(Ga,Mn)As magnetic tunnel junction is demonstrated at 30 K. Magnetoresistance measurements combined with current pulse application on a rectangular 1.5 x 0.3 microm2 device revealed that magnetization switching occurs at low critical current densities of 1.1-2.2 x 10(5) A/cm2 despite the presence of spin-orbit interaction in the p-type semiconductor system. Possible mechanisms responsible for the effect are discussed.     

Very large tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance of a (Ga,Mn)As/GaAs/(Ga,Mn)As stack

We report the discovery of a very large tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance in an epitaxially grown (Ga,Mn)As/GaAs/(Ga,Mn)As structure. The key novel spintronics features of this effect are as follows: (i) both normal and inverted spin-valve-like signals; (ii) a large nonhysteretic magnetoresistance for magnetic fields perpendicular to the interfaces; (iii) magnetization orientations for extremal resistance are, in general, not aligned with the magnetic easy and hard axis; (iv) enormous amplification of the effect at low bias and temperatures.     

Dephasing in (Ga,Mn)As nanowires and rings

To understand quantum mechanical transport in a ferromagnetic semiconductor, the knowledge of basic material properties such as the phase coherence length and corresponding dephasing mechanism are indispensable ingredients. The lack of observable quantum phenomena has prevented experimental access to these quantities so far. Here we report the observations of universal conductance fluctuations in ferromagnetic (Ga,Mn)As. The analysis of the length and temperature dependence of the fluctuations reveals a T(-1) dependence of the dephasing time.