How to make semiconductors ferromagnetic: A first course on spintronics

Abstract

The rapidly developing field of ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors, where a semiconductor host is magnetically doped by transition metal impurities to produce a ferromagnetic semiconductor (e.g. Ga_{1-x}Mn_xAs with x ~ 1-10 %), is discussed with the emphasis on elucidating the physical mechanisms underlying the magnetic properties. Recent key developments are summarized with critical discussions of the roles of disorder, localization, band structure, defects, and the choice of materials in producing good magnetic quality and high Curie temperature. The correlation between magnetic and transport properties is argued to be a crucial ingredient in developing a full understanding of the properties of ferromagnetic semiconductors.Comment: 8 pages; to appear in the special issue 'Quantum Phases at Nanoscale' of Solid State Communication