6 research outputs found
Interlayer Exchange Coupling Mediated by Valence Band Electrons
The interlayer exchange coupling mediated by valence band electrons in
all-semiconductor IV-VI magnetic/nonmagnetic superlattices is studied
theoretically. A 3D tight-binding model, accounting for the band and magnetic
structure of the constituent superlattice components is used to calculate the
spin-dependent part of the total electronic energy. The antiferromagnetic
coupling between ferromagnetic layers in EuS/PbS superlattices is obtained, in
agreement with the experimental evidences. The results obtained for the
coupling between antiferromagnetic layers in EuTe/PbTe superlattices are also
presented.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, to be submitted to Phys.Rev.
Magnetization steps in Zn_(1-x)Mn_xO: Four largest exchange constants and single-ion anisotropy
Magnetization steps (MST's) from Mn pairs in several single crystals of
Zn_(1-x)Mn_xO (0.0056<=x<=0.030, and in one powder (x=0.029), were observed.
The largest two exchange constants, J1/kB=-18.2+/-0.5K and J1'/kB=-24.3+/-0.6K,
were obtained from large peaks in the differential susceptibility, dM/dH,
measured in pulsed magnetic fields, H, up to 500 kOe. These two largest J's are
associated with the two inequivalent classes of nearest neighbors (NN's) in the
wurtzite structure. The 29% difference between J1 and J1' is substantially
larger than 13% in CdS:Mn, and 15% in CdSe:Mn. The pulsed-field data also
indicate that, despite the direct contact between the samples and a
superfluid-helium bath, substantial departures from thermal equilibrium
occurred during the 7.4 ms pulse. The third- and fourth-largest J's were
determined from the magnetization M at 20 mK, measured in dc magnetic fields H
up to 90 kOe. Both field orientations H||c and H||[10-10] were studied. (The
[10-10] direction is perpendicular to the c-axis, [0001].) By definition,
neighbors which are not NN's are distant neighbors (DN's). The largest DN
exchange constant (third-largest overall), has the value J/kB=-0.543+/-0.005K,
and is associated with the DN at r=c. Because this is not the closest DN, this
result implies that the J's do not decrease monotonically with the distance r.
The second-largest DN exchange constant (fourth-largest overall), has the value
J/kB=-0.080 K. It is associated with one of the two classes of neighbors that
have a coordination number z=12, but the evidence is insufficient for a
definite unique choice. The dependence of M on the direction of H gives
D/kB=-0.039+/-0.008K, in fair agreement with -0.031 K from earlier EPR work.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures. Submitted to PR
Magnetic interactions in EuTe epitaxial layers and EuTe/PbTe superlattices
The magnetic properties of antiferromagnetic (AFM) EuTe epitaxial layers and
short period EuTe/PbTe superlattices (SLs), grown by molecular beam epitaxy on
(111) BaF substrates, were studied by magnetization and neutron diffraction
measurements. Considerable changes of the N\'eel temperature as a function of
the EuTe layer thickness as well as of the strain state were found. A mean
field model, taking into account the variation of the exchange constants with
the strain-induced lattice distortions, and the nearest neighbor environment of
a Eu atoms, was developed to explain the observed changes in wide
range of samples. Pronounced interlayer magnetic correlations have been
revealed by neutron diffraction in EuTe/PbTe SLs with PbTe spacer thickness up
to 60 \AA. The observed diffraction spectra were analyzed, in a kinematical
approximation, assuming partial interlayer correlations characterized by an
appropriate correlation parameter. The formation of interlayer correlations
between the AFM EuTe layers across the nonmagnetic PbTe spacer was explained
within a framework of a tight-binding model. In this model, the interlayer
coupling stems from the dependence of the total electronic energy of the
EuTe/PbTe SL on the spin configurations in adjacent EuTe layers. The influence
of the EuTe and PbTe layer thickness fluctuations, inherent in the epitaxial
growth process, on magnetic properties and interlayer coupling is discussed.Comment: 17 pages, 19 figures, accepted to PR