Temperature-dependent shape anisotropy in patterned ferromagnetic (Ga,Mn)As films with low Mn concentration

We discuss magnetic properties of lithographically patterned nanoscale stripes of dilute ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As aligned with [110] crystallographic direction, i.e., perpendicular to the easy axis of uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy of this material. We find that at temperatures...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xiang Li, Sining Dong, Xinyu Liu, Jacek K. Furdyna, Margaret Dobrowolska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2017-05-01
Series:AIP Advances
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4973201
Description
Summary:We discuss magnetic properties of lithographically patterned nanoscale stripes of dilute ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As aligned with [110] crystallographic direction, i.e., perpendicular to the easy axis of uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy of this material. We find that at temperatures where uniaxial anisotropy becomes dominant, shape-induced effects strongly compete with this intrinsic property, tending to align the total magnetization along the stripe direction. The present study revealed, however, that low-temperature annealing of the stripes markedly reduces such shape-induced effects. This effect of annealing is not presently understood, and will require further detailed study.
ISSN:2158-3226