Signatures of electron-boson coupling in half-metallic ferromagnet Mn$_5$Ge$_3$: study of electron self-energy $Σ(ω)$ obtained from infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

We report results of our infrared and optical spectroscopy study of a half-metallic ferromagnet Mn$_5$Ge$_3$. This compound is currently being investigated as a potential injector of spin polarized currents into germanium. Infrared measurements have been performed over a broad frequency (50 - 50000 cm$^{-1}$) and temperature (10 - 300 K) range. From the complex optical conductivity $σ(ω)$ we extract the electron self-energy $Σ(ω)$. The calculation of $Σ(ω)$ is based on novel numerical algorithms for solution of systems of non-linear equations. The obtained self-energy provides a new insight into electron correlations in Mn$_5$Ge$_3$. In particular, it reveals that charge carriers may be coupled to bosonic modes, possibly of magnetic origin.