Structural and magnetic properties of the molecular beam epitaxy grown MnSb layers on GaAs substrates

• The structural and magnetic properties of MnSb layers grown on two   differently oriented GaAs substrates are reported. The MnSb compounds   grow nonhomogenously both on GaAs (111) B and on GaAs (100) substrates.   In x-ray diffraction studies the formation of two epitaxial domains is   observed depending on the crystallographic orientation of the   substrate. The observed diffusion of Ga atoms from the substrate to the   layers results in the formation of an additional Mn-rich cubic phase of   GaMnSb. In the case of the (100) oriented substrate, the diffusion of   Mn into the substrate was additionally found. Traces of other phases   were also noticed. The complex morphology of the layers is found to   influence their magnetic properties. Magnetic force microscopy images   revealed an inhomogenous distribution of the magnetic force gradient on   the surface and the formation of magnetic domains in the samples. X-ray   absorption studies of the chemical bonding and local atomic structure   around Mn atoms confirmed high structural and chemical disorder in the   samples. The chemical bonding of the dominating fraction of Mn atoms is   found, however, similar to that in the reference MnSb powder. The x-ray   magnetic circular dichroism measurements reveal an enhanced orbital   moment and a reduced spin moment, which is most likely caused by the   presence of different phases and a Mn-rich surface in the investigated   samples.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Physics

Fysik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)