Effect of Gd doping and O deficiency on the Curie temperature of EuO

TL;DR

This study investigates how Gd doping and oxygen deficiency influence the electronic structure, magnetic interactions, and Curie temperature of EuO, revealing optimal defect concentrations for magnetic performance.

Contribution

It provides a detailed theoretical analysis of defect effects on EuO's magnetic properties using density functional theory, highlighting optimal doping levels.

Findings

Curie temperature exhibits a maximum at specific defect concentrations

Optimal defect levels balance different magnetic exchange interactions

Both cubic and tetragonal phases show similar defect effects

Abstract

The effect of Gd doping and O deficiency on the electronic structure, exchange interaction, and Curie temperature of EuO in the cubic and tetragonal phases is studied by means of density functional theory. For both defects, the Curie temperature is found to exhibit a distinct maximum as a function of the defect concentration. The existence of optimal defect concentrations is explained by the interplay of the on-site, RKKY, and superexchange contributions to the magnetism.