X-ray method to study temperature-dependent stripe domains in MnAs/GaAs(001)

MnAs films grown on GaAs (001) exhibit a progressive transition between hexagonal (ferromagnetic) and orthorhombic (paramagnetic) phases at wide temperature range instead of abrupt transition during the first-order phase transition. The coexistence of two phases is favored by the anisotropic strain arising from the constraint on the MnAs films imposed by the substrate. This phase coexistence occurs in ordered arrangement alternating periodic terrace steps. We present here a method to study the surface morphology throughout this transition by means of specular and diffuse scattering of soft x-rays, tuning the photon energy at the Mn 2p resonance. The results show the long-range arrangement of the periodic stripe-like structure during the phase coexistence and its period remains constant, in agreement with previous results using other techniques.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Applied Physics Letter

Elastic and magnetic properties of epitaxial MnAs layers on GaAs

We have investigated the elasto- and magneto-optical properties of MnAs layers epitaxially grown on (001) GaAs for temperatures around the structural (hexagonal/orthorhombic) and magnetic (ferromagnetic/paramagnetic) phase transition of MnAs at T(c)similar to40 degreesC. The phase transition is accompanied by a large variation of the MnAs lattice parameter a of similar to1%, which induces a strong and anisotropic strain field in the MnAs/GaAs heterostructures. The latter was measured by detecting the optical anisotropy induced on the GaAs substrate by means of polarization-sensitive light transmission measurements. The experimental results show clear evidence for the quasi-uniaxial strain induced on the GaAs substrate during the phase transition, which extends over a temperature range of similar to30 degreesC in the MnAs/GaAs heterostructures. The strain levels are well reproduced by an elastic model for the heterostructures which assumes that the strain is transferred across the MnAs/GaAs interface without relaxation. The elastic properties during the phase transition were compared to the average magnetization probed using a SQUID magnetometer and to the magnetization near the front and the back surfaces of the MnAs films detected using the magneto-optical Kerr effect. The smaller temperature range of the phase transition observed in the magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements indicates a lower stability of the ferromagnetic phase near the surface of the MnAs layers.652

Strain redistribution at the phase transition of MnAs/GaAs(001) films

We investigated the thermal evolution of the lattice parameters of a MnAs film epitaxially grown on GaAs(001) around its magnetostructural first-order phase transition using x-ray diffraction. Despite the substrate constraint, large variation of one of the in-plane lattice parameters is preserved, typical of bulk MnAs phase transition, during a large temperature range where two phases coexist. We demonstrated that the condition of the constant film length along this direction, in accord to the substrate length, is always fulfilled during the process. The effect is attributed to the gliding of misfit dislocations present on the film.881

Characteristics of interface corrugations in short-period GaAs/AlAs superlattices

GaAs/AlAs supelattices with corrugated interfaces have been investigated by the polarized photoluminescence method. Using the theoretical approach, which associates the linear polarization of exciton photoluminescence with the corrugation parameters, experimental results have been fitted to determine the height and lateral extension of corrugations.Методом поляризованої фотолюмінесценції досліджені надгратки GaAs/AlAs з коругованими гетеромережами. Співставляючи експериментальні результати з теоретичними розрахунками на основі моделі, яка пов'язує ступінь лінійної поляризації екситонної фотолюмінесценції з параметрами коругованостей, визначені висота та латеральна протяжність коругованостей.Методом поляризованной фотолюминесценции исследованы сверхрешетки GaAs/AlAs с корругированными гетерограницами. Путем сравнения експериментальных результатов с теоретическими расчетами, базирующимися на модели, которая связывает степень линейной поляризации экситонной фотолюминесценции з параметрами корругованностей, определены высота и латеральная протяженность корругованностей

Selective etching of epitaxial MnAs films on GaAs(001): Influence of structure and strain

Strain in epitaxial MnAs thin films on GaAs(001) substrates plays an important role in the coupled magnetostructural phase transition. As a result of strain, the phase transition from the ferromagnetic α phase to the paramagnetic Β phase proceeds over a wide temperature range and the coexisting phases form a periodic stripe array. Employing suitable wet chemical etchants, the two MnAs phases can be etched selectively. Perpendicular to the α-Β -stripe structure, the built-up strain relaxes in the course of the etching process by the formation of cracks. The combination of both strain relaxation mechanisms allows for the defined patterning of two-dimensional arrays of nanomagnets. Through micromagnetic investigations, it is possible to identify the location of α - and Β-MnAs which helps to clarify two major aspects of the etching process. First, it is possible to determine the etch rates of α - and Β-MnAs and follow the complex interplay of strain and phase composition during the etching process. Second, as strain reflects itself in a shifted phase-transition temperature, temperature-dependent micromagnetic studies allow to determine the strain environment of the cracks. © 2005 American Institute of Physics

Extending the magnetic order of MnAs films on GaAs to higher temperatures

Manganese arsenide is a promising candidate for new spintronics applications since it is ferromagnetic at room temperature and can be grown with high epitaxial quality on semiconductors. However, the transition temperature of ∼40 °C is a limiting factor for device applications. Since the coupled magnetic and structural transition is of first order, it is in principle possible to shift the transition temperature by changing external parameters. Here we show that by either applying an external magnetic field or by growing the MnAs films on GaAs(1 1 1), i.e., by changing the epitaxial constraints which are equivalent to external pressure, ferromagnetic order can be stabilized well above the bulk-phase transition temperature. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Variable-temperature micromagnetic study of epitaxially grown MnAs films on GaAs(001)

We present variable-temperature magnetic force microscopy (VT-MFM) studies of epitaxially grown MnAs layers on GaAs(001). In MnAs, a structural and magnetic phase transition occurs at Tc ≈ 40 °C from the hexagonal, ferromagnetic α-phase below Tc to the orthorhombic, paramagnetic β-phase above Tc. In the investigated MnAs-GaAs system, both phases coexist over a temperature range of ≈ 30 °C below Tc due to the involved strain. Using MFM we are able to distinguish between the ferromagnetic and the paramagnetic phases by measuring topographic and magnetic contrast of the same sample area. For VT-MFM studies, we have employed a temperature stage that allows heating and cooling in a controlled atmosphere with small thermal drift (for this system, the temperature was varied from below 0 °C to above 45 °C). The ratio of the ferromagnetic to the paramagnetic phases shows a temperature hysteresis, i.e. the ratio is dependent on whether the sample was heated or cooled to reach the measurement temperature. Detailed studies of the domains and their arrangements over the hysteretic temperature cycle are shown and compared. Mainly three different domain types are found that are dominant in their respective temperature ranges

Temperature-dependent magnetic force microscopy investigation of epitaxial MnAs films on GaAs(001)

The epitaxially grown MnAs films on GaAs(001) were studied using variable-temperature magnetic force microscopy (VT-MFM). The MnAs film underwent a first order structural phase transition around a critical temperature of 40°C. It was found that, due to the strain involved, the ferromagnetic α-MnAs and paramagnetic β-MnAs phase coexisted as stripes along MnAs[0001]

Micromagnetic properties of MnAs(0001)/GaAs(111) epitaxial films

The micromagnetic properties of MnAs thin films grown on the (111)B-oriented GaAs surface have been investigated. Compared to films grown on (001) surfaces, these films exhibit completely different domain patterns, as the c axis of the hexagonal unit cell is oriented normal to the surface. In the course of the first order phase transition, ferromagnetic α -MnAs forms a network of quasihexagonal areas separated by Β -MnAs. We present an analysis of the micromagnetic properties based on imaging and simulations. We observe closure domains that either appear as a vortex-like state or a stripe structure. © 2006 American Institute of Physics