Exchange splitting of acceptor states in semimagnetic-semiconductors: Magnetoresistance studies of Cd1-xMnxTe

Measurements of resistivity as a function of temperature and magnetic field in p-Cd_1-xMn_xTe are reported. A negatove magnetoresistance has been found and shown to originate from the magnetic field induced lowering of the acceptor binding energy. It is demonstrated that the experimental results can be quantitatively described if two effects are taken into account: (i) orbital quenching of the p-d exchange splitting of the four-fold degenerate acceptor level, (ii) destructive effect of a magnetic field on a contribution to the binding energy given by thermodynamical fluctuation of magnetization.     

Pressure dependence of the absorption edge for Cd1-xMnxTe

The effect of pressure on the optical absorption edge of mixed crystals Cd_1-xMn_xTe with different manganese concentrations is reported. The observed absorption edge shifts to higher energy with increasing pressure at a rate of α=7?8×10^?3 eV/kbar and a second order coefficient of β=-4×10^?5 eV/kbar² for x<0.5, to lower energy with increasing pressure at a rate of α=-5.0 ×10^?3 eV/kbar for x?0.5. A phase transition occurs for all the samples studied. The absorption edge of the new phase is outside the wavenumber range of the instrument. The physical origins of different pressure coefficients are discussed in the light of the deformation potentials of energy band states and the hybridization of the Mn²⁺ 3d levels with the p-like states in the valence band.     

Dynamical behavior of spin-glass Cd1-xMnxTe from low field faraday rotation measurements

The low field Faraday rotation effect has been used to the investigation of the dynamic magnetic properties of the spin-glass Cd_1-xMn_xTe. The temperature and time dependence of the Faraday angle was investigated at T<T_c. It was shown that the thermal and magnetic history of the sample above T_c has the essential influence on the behavior below the critical temperature.     

Ab-initio investigations of structural, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of ferromagnetic Cd1-xMnxTe

We report ab-initio calculations of the structural, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of the alloy Cd_1-xMn_xTe as a function of the Mn concentration ‘x’. Ab-initio calculations are based on the density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The calculated lattice constants of the Cd_1-xMn_xTe alloys exhibit Vegard's law downward bowing parameter. For the minority spin channel the Fermi level shifts toward higher energy with the value of ‘x’ in Cd_1-xMn_xTe. The spin-exchange splitting energy Δ_x(d) increases with increasing ‘x’ in Cd_1-xMn_xTe and the values of p-d exchange splitting energy Δ_x(pd) of Cd_1-xMn_xTe show that the effective potential for the minority spin is more attractive than that for the majority spin. The values of exchange constants N₀α and N₀β obtained for Cd_1-xMn_xTe are in agreement with the reported data. The magnetic moment per Mn atom reduces from its free space charge value of 5μ_B to around 4μ_B due to p-d hybridization and this results into an appearance of small local magnetic moments on the non-magnetic Cd and Te sites. The absorption threshold shifts toward higher energy and the static refractive index decreases with the increasing value of ‘x’ in Cd_1-xMn_xTe.     

Fundamental optical properties of Cd1-xMnxSe single crystals

The absorption near the fundamental edge of Cd_1-xMn_xSe was measured in the composition range 0<x<0.3 at room and liquid nitrogen temperature with the electric field of the radiation parallel and perpendicular to the hexagonal axis. An exponential dependence of the absorption coefficient versus photon energy was found, and a linear dependence of energy gap E₀ on composition was obtained. The room temperature reflectivity measurements in the energy range 2.5–5.2eV, for two polarization of light were performed, and a linear dependence of the interband transitions energies vs. alloy composition was found.     

Giant exciton Faraday rotation in Cd1−xMnxTe mixed crystals

New semiconductor compound Cd_1?xMn_xTe exhibits strong Faraday rotation in the interband region. It is shown by measurements of magneto-optical Kerr effect and reflection in magnetic field that unusually large exciton Zeeman splitting plays an essential role in the observed Faraday rotation. A possible explanation of the observed splitting (corresponding to a “g factor” value up to 100) by exchange interaction of excitons with manganese d states is suggested.     

X-ray spectroscopic study of the valence band structure of Cd1−xMnxTe, x = 0.6

The valence band structure of Cd_1?xMn_xTe (x = 0.6) was studied by soft X-ray emission spectroscopy using a 11.5 m concave grating grazing incidence spectrometer in conjunction with a high power rotating anode, which provided the radiation for flourescence excitation. The position of the Mn 3d⁵ states within the energy band system could be identified unambiguously; they form a band near the top of the CdTe valence band. The results are discussed with regard to recently published photoemission data.     

X-ray photoelectron study of Sn1−xMnxTe semimagnetic semiconductors

X-ray photoelectron (XPS) studies of core-levels in Sn_1−xMn_xTe (x < 0.1) semimagnetic semiconductors have been performed. The spectra were acquired under UHV conditions from the clean (as-cleaved or in-situ scraped) crystal surface. The single-phase NaCl structure of the alloys studied was verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The structure of Sn 3d and Te 3d core-levels in SnMnTe was found fully consistent with that of SnTe. Remarkable qualitative similarity of the Mn 2p spectrum of Sn_1−xMn_xTe (x = 0.09) with the case of zinc-blende MnTe [R.J. Iwanowski, M.H. Heinonen, E. Janik, Chem. Phys. Lett. 387 (2004) 110] has been shown: (1) the same binding energies (BEs) of the main contributions to the Mn 2p_3/2 line, related to Mn²⁺ state of the bulk MnTe bond; (2) occurrence of low BE component in the Mn 2p spectrum, indicative of clean-surface species containing reduced-valence Mn ions (i.e. Mn^q+, where 0 < q < 2); (3) strong satellites of the 2p_3/2 (Mn²⁺ related) parent lines. In SnMnTe, the highest intensity ratio of the satellite to main peak (ever reported for Mn 2p photoelectron spectrum) was revealed; this was interpreted in terms of the so-called charge-transfer model.     

Spin-polarized structural, electronic and magnetic properties of diluted magnetic semiconductors Cd1−xMnxTe in zinc blende phase

We have investigated the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of the diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) Cd_1−xMn_xTe (for x=0.75 and 1.0) in the zinc blende (B3) phase by employing the ab-initio method. Calculations were performed by using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave plus local orbitals (FP-L/APW+lo) method within the frame work of spin-polarized density functional theory (SP-DFT). The electronic exchange-correlation energy is described by generalized gradient approximation (GGA). We have calculated the lattice parameters, bulk modulii and the first pressure derivatives of the bulk modulii, spin-polarized band structures, and total and local densities of states. We estimated the spin-exchange splitting energies Δ_x(d) and Δ_x(pd) produced by the Mn3d states, and we found that the effective potential for the minority spin is more attractive than that of the majority spin. We determine the s-d exchange constant N₀α (conduction band) and p-d exchange constant N₀β (valence band) and these somewhat agree with a typical magneto-optical experiment. The value of calculated magnetic moment per Mn impurity atom is found to be 4.08 μ_B for Cd_0.25Mn_0.75Te and 4.09 μ_B for Cd_0.0Mn_1.0Te. Moreover, we found that p-d hybridization reduces the local magnetic moment of Mn from its free space charge value of 5.0 μ_B and produces small local magnetic moments on the nonmagnetic Cd and Te sites.     

NiP:Mn as a potential magnetic contacting material to Cd1−xMnxTe

Injection of spin-polarized current into spintronic devices is a challenge to the semiconductor physicists and technologists. II-VI compound semiconductors can act as the spin aligner on the top of GaAs light emitting diode. However, II-VI compound semiconductor like Cd_1−xMn_xTe is still suffering from contacting problem. Application of electroless deposited magnetic NiP:Mn contact would enhance efficient current injection into Cd_1−xMn_xTe than the standard gold contact. A technique for electroless deposition of NiP:Mn on Cd_1−xMn_xTe have been described here. The electronic and magnetic properties of the contact material NiP:Mn and the contact performance of NiP:Mn relative to evaporated gold have been evaluated. The contact fulfills the requirements of resistivity and ferromagnetism for application to Cd_1−xMn_xTe.     

Modification of Cd1−xMnxTe crystal surface layers by nanopulsed laser irradiation

The surface modification of Cd_1−xMn_xTe (x = 0-0.3) crystal wafers under pulsed laser irradiation has been studied. The samples were irradiated by a Q-switched ruby laser with pulse duration of 80 ns. Optical diagnostics of laser-induced thermal processes were carried out by means of time-resolved reflectivity measurements at wavelengths 0.53 and 1.06 μm. Laser irradiation energy density, E varied in the range of 0.1-0.6 J/cm². Morphology of irradiated surface was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The energy density whereby the sample surface starts to melt, depends on Mn content and is equal to 0.12-0.14 J/cm² for x ≤ 0.2, in the case of x = 0.3 this value is about 0.35 J/cm². The higher Mn content leads to higher melt duration. The morphology of laser irradiated surface changes from a weakly modified surface to a single crystal strained one, with an increase in E. Under irradiation with E in the range of 0.21-0.25 J/cm², the oriented filamentary crystallization is observed. The Te inclusions on the surface are revealed after the irradiation of samples with small content of Mn.     

Long time effects in the spin glass Cd1−xMnxTe

Long time effects in the spin glass Cd_1-xMn_xTe are investigated by measurements of the low field Faraday rotation effect. Strongly marked fluctuations are observed in the time dependence of the Faraday angle below the critical temperature. That seems to be a new effect in spin glasses.     

Stimulated emission of free excitons in Cd1−xMnxTe under nonresonant two-photon excitation

We report on free excitons coexisting with exciton magnetic polarons (EMPs) in bulk semimagnetic semiconductors of Cd_1−xMn_xTe for 0.04?x?0.36 at 2 K under nonresonant two-photon excitation. This two-photon excitation not only generates free excitons but also more efficiently creates EMPs compared with ordinary one-photon excitation. Stimulated emission from free excitons is demonstrated under strong two-photon excitation.     

Diode laser action in Pb1-xMnxS

Diode laser action has been observed in Pb_1-xMn_xS alloy system for molar fraction of MnS x = 0.014 at the emission energy of 320 meV at 15 K. Combined current and magnetic field tuning has been examined in the range of 2.4–9.0 A and 0–14 kG, respectively and a quasi continuous tuning in the energy range from 320.5 meV to 322.0 meV was achieved. This is a first report about laser action in semiconductors containing paramagnetic ions.     

Magnetic behavior of Cd1−xMnxSe

We report EPR and magnetic susceptability measurements in single crystals of Cd_1?xMn_xSe as a function of concentration and temperature. The data indicate that there is a critical concentration x≈0.22 which we identify with the percolation critical point x_c.     

Cyclotron resonance in Pb1−xMnxTe

The cyclotron resonance in p-Pb_1?xMn_xTe with x up to 0.022 was investigated using a strip-line technique. Band-structure parameters at the L-point of the Brillouin zone were derived; the transverse effective mass increased strongly with increasing Mn content, and the anisotropy parameter decreased. An influence of the exchange interaction on the band structure was not distinctly observed.     

Magnetic properties of Sn1-xCrxTe crystals

Magnetization measurements of magnetic semiconductor Sn_1-xCr_xTe (x <5 at%) crystals with the Curie temperature T_c = 150–300 K were made down to 2 K. The magnetic properties are sensitive to isothermal annealing under Zn vapor. The overall magnetizations of the Zn-annealed crystals have paramagnetic and ferro- or antiferromagnetic contributions.     

Photovoltaic Effect in Pb1−xMnxTe

Photovoltaic effect on p?n junctions made with ternary compounds Pb_1?xMn_xTe has been measured. From these measurements the energy gap of the alloys was determined as a function of temperature.     

Evidence for the spin-dependent scattering of conduction electrons on Mn2+ ions in Hg1−xMnxTe and Cd1−xMnxSe mixed crystals

Changes in the resistivity of Hg_1?xMn_xTe and Cd_1?xMn_xSe mixed crystals associated with paramagnetic resonance of the Mn²⁺ ions have been observed at liquid helium temperature in a strong magnetic field. The effect was recorded by monitoring the submillimeter radiation induced photoconductivity in a swept magnetic field. An increase in the resistivity associated with EPR of the Mn²⁺ ions is interpreted in terms of the spin- dependent scattering of electrons on magnetic impurities, the spins of which are selectively depolarised by means of paramagnetic resonance. Some additional effects influencing the experiments are also discussed.