Antiferromagnetic s-d exchange coupling in GaMnAs

Abstract

Measurements of coherent electron spin dynamics in Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As/Al(0.4)Ga(0.6)As quantum wells with 0.0006% < x < 0.03% show an antiferromagnetic (negative) exchange bewteen s-like conduction band electrons and electrons localized in the d-shell of the Mn2+ impurities. The magnitude of the s-d exchange parameter, N0 alpha, varies as a function of well width indicative of a large and negative contribution due to kinetic exchange. In the limit of no quantum confinement, N0 alpha extrapolates to -0.09 +/- 0.03 eV indicating that antiferromagnetic s-d exchange is a bulk property of GaMnAs. Measurements of the polarization-resolved photoluminescence show strong discrepancy from a simple model of the exchange enhanced Zeeman splitting, indicative of additional complexity in the exchange split valence band.

5 pages, 4 figures and one action figure