Magneto-optical Kerr spectroscopy of (Ga,Mn)(As,P) ferromagnetic layers: Experiments and k.p theory

M Yahyaoui (1) , H Riahi (2) , A A Maaref (2) , K Boujdaria (1) , Aristide Lemaître (3) , L. Thevenard (4, 5) , Catherine Gourdon (5, 4)

1 Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux: Structure et Propriétés
2 Laboratoire Matériaux Molécules et Applications
3 C2N - Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies [Orsay]
4 INSP-E1 - Nanostructures et systèmes quantiques
5 INSP - Institut des Nanosciences de Paris

We present a theoretical and experimental study of the magneto-optical properties of thin (Ga,Mn) (As,P) layers on GaAs substrates with varying phosphorus fractions. Using a 40-band k.p model as well as an antiferromagnetic (s, p)-d exchange interaction, we calculate the dielectric tensor, the Kerr rotation angle, and the ellipticity in the interband transition region. Our calculations are validated through a set of accurate comparisons with experimental results. The Kerr ellipticity peak is found to be 2 to 3 times larger than the Kerr rotation angle both experimentally and theoretically. This work will enable to optimize the magneto-optical effects in these layers for maximum sensitivity in ultra-fast magnetization dynamics and domain microscopy experiments. Published by AIP Publishing.

Mots clés: Magneto-optics; Kerr effect

Domaines: Science des matériaux [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]

M Yahyaoui, H Riahi, A A Maaref, K Boujdaria, Aristide Lemaître, et al.. Magneto-optical Kerr spectroscopy of (Ga,Mn)(As,P) ferromagnetic layers: Experiments and k.p theory. Journal of Applied Physics, 2017, 121 (12), pp.125702. ⟨10.1063/1.4979205⟩. ⟨hal-01522882⟩