Magnetic spin excitations in diluted ferromagnetic systems: the case of Ga1−xMnxAsGa_{1-x}Mn_{x}As

We propose a theory which allow to calculate the magnetic excitation spectrum in diluted ferromagnetic systems. The approach is rather general and based on the Self-Consistent local Random Phase Approximation in which disorder (dilution) and thermal fluctuations are properly treated. To illustrate its reliability and accuracy we calculate the magnetic excitation in the diluted III-V magnetic semiconductor $Ga_{1-x}Mn_{x}As$. It is shown that dilution has a drastic effect on the excitation spectrum, indeed well defined magnon excitations exist only in a small region of the Brillouin zone centered around the $\Gamma$ point. We also calculate the spin stiffness in optimally annealed sample as a function of $Mn^{2+}$ concentration. A comparison to available measurements is done. We find a very good agreement for both the Curie temperature and the spin stiffness measured in well annealed samples and provide a plausible explanation for the very small values measured in as grown samples.Comment: The manuscript has been modified, 4 figures are included. Accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. Let

Optical conductivity of Mn doped GaAs

We study the optical conductivity in the III-V diluted magnetic semiconductor GaMnAs and compare our calculations to available experimental data. Our model study is able to reproduce both qualitatively and quantitatively the observed measurements. We show that compensation (low carrier density) leads, in agreement to the observed measurements to a red shift of the broad peak located at approximately 200 meV for the optimally annealed sample. The non perturbative treatment appears to be essential, otherwise a blueshift and an incorrect amplitude would be obtained. By calculating the Drude weight (order parameter) we establish the metal-insulator phase diagram. We indeed find that Mn doped GaAs is close to the metal-insulator transition and that for 5$$ and 7$$ doped samples, 20$$ of the carriers only are delocalized. We have found that the optical mass is approximately 2 m$_{e}$. We have also interesting results for overdoped samples which could be experimentally realized by Zn codoping.Comment: the manuscript has been extended, new figures are include

Non-perturbative JpdJ_{pd} model and ferromagnetism in dilute magnets

We calculate magnetic couplings in the $J_{pd}$ model for dilute magnets, in order both to identify the relevant parameters which control ferromagnetism and also to bridge the gap between first principle calculations and model approaches. The magnetic exchange interactions are calculated non-perturbatively and disorder in the configuration of impurities is treated exacly, allowing us to test the validity of effective medium theories. Results differ qualitatively from those of weak coupling. In contrast to mean field theory, increasing $J_{pd}$ may not favor high Curie temperatures: $T_C$ scales primarily with the bandwidth. High temperature ferromagnetism at small dilutions is associated with resonant structure in the p-band. Comparison to diluted magnetic semiconductors indicate that Ga(Mn)As has such a resonant structure and thus this material is already close to optimality.Comment: 4 pages, 4 Figure

Unified picture for diluted magnetic semiconductors

For already a decade the field of diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) is one of the hottest. In spite of the great success of material specific Density Functional Theory (DFT) to provide accurately critical Curie temperatures ($T_{C}$) in various III-V based materials, the ultimate search for a unifying model/theory was still an open issue. Many crucial questions were still without answer, as for example: Why, after one decade, does GaMnAs still exhibit the highest $T_{C}$? Is there any intrinsic limitations or any hope to reach room temperature? How to explain in a unique theory the proximity of GaMnAs to the metal-insulator transition, and the change from RKKY couplings in II-VI materials to the double exchange regime in GaMnN? The aim of the present work is to provide this missing theory. We will show that the key parameter is the position of the Mn level acceptor and that GaMnAs has the highest $T_{C}$ among III-V DMS. Our theory (i) provides an overall understanding, (ii) is quantitatively consistent with existing DFT based studies, (iii) able to explain both transport and magnetic properties in a broad variety of DMS and (iv) reproduces the $T_{C}$ obtained from first principle studies for many materials including both GaMnN and GaMnAs. The model also reproduces accurately recent experimental data of the optical conductivity of GaMnAs and predicts those of other materials.Comment: 5 figures includes, accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. Let

Absence of confinement in (SrTiO3)/(SrTi0:8Nb0:2O3) superlattices

The reduction of dimensionality is an efficient pathway to boost the performances of thermoelectric materials, it leads to the quantum confinement of the carriers and thus to large Seebeck coefficients (S) and it also suppresses the thermal conductivity by increasing the phonon scattering processes. However, quantum confinement in superlattices is not always easy to achieve and needs to be carefully validated. In the past decade, large values of S have been measured in (SrTiO3)/(SrTi0:8Nb0:2O3) superlattices (Nat. Mater. 6, 129 (2007) and Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 192105 (2007)). In the $\delta$-doped compound, the measured S was almost 6 times larger than that of the bulk material. This huge increase has been attributed to the two dimensional confinement of the carriers in the doped regions. In this work, we demonstrate that the experimental data can be well explained quantitatively within the scenario in which electrons are delocalized in both in-plane and growth directions, hence strongly suggesting that the confinement picture in these superlattices may be unlikely.Comment: 5 figures, manuscript submitte

Superexchange induced canted ferromagnetism in dilute magnets

We argue, in contrast to recent studies, that the antiferromagnetic superexchange coupling between nearest neighbour spins does not fully destroy the ferromagnetism in dilute magnets with long-ranged ferromagnetic couplings. Above a critical coupling, we find a \textit{canted} ferromagnetic phase with unsaturated moment. We have calculated the transition temperature using a simplified local Random Phase Approximation procedure which accounts for the canting. For the dilute magnetic semiconductors, such as GaMnAs, using \textit{ab-initio} couplings allows us to predict the existence of a canted phase and provide an explanation to the apparent contradictions observed in experimental measurements. Finally, we have compared with previous studies that used RKKY couplings and reported non-ferromagnetic state when the superexchange is too strong. Even in this case the ferromagnetism should remain essentially stable in the form of a canted phase.Comment: 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Re

Relation of Curie temperature and conductivity: (Ga,Mn)As alloy as a case study

Experimental investigations of diluted magnetic semiconductors indicate a strong relation between Curie temperature and conductivity. Both quantities depend non trivially on the concentration of magnetic impurities, the carrier density, and the presence of compensating defects. We calculate both Curie temperature and conductivity of (Ga,Mn)As alloys in a selfconsistent manner based on the same first principles Hamiltonian in which the presence of compensating defects is taken into account. The effect of As-antisites and Mn-interstitials is determined separately and a good agreement between theory and experiment exists only in the case where the dominating mechanism of is due to the Mn-interstitials.Comment: The manuscript is accepted for publication in AP

Giant boost of the quantum metric in disordered one dimensional flat band systems

It is a well known fact, that the disorder has its most dramatic effects on the conventional quantum transport in one dimensional systems. In flat band (FB) systems, it is revealed that the conductivity at the FB energy is robust against the disorder and can even be tremendously boosted. Furthermore, challenging our understanding of the physical phenomena, the giant increase occurs in the limit of low FB states density. The singular behaviour of the quantum metric of the FB eigenstates is found to be at the heart of these unexpected and puzzling features. Our findings should have interesting fallout for other physical systems, and may as well open up engineering strategies to boost the critical temperature in two dimensional superconducting FB materials.Comment: to appear in Phys. Rev.