Following enhanced Sm spin projection in Gd$_x$Sm$_{1-x}$N

TL;DR

This study investigates the spin and orbital magnetic alignments in Gd$_x$Sm$_{1-x}$N films using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, revealing how Gd influences Sm's magnetic properties and guiding composition for angular momentum compensation.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the spin/orbit magnetic dipole alignments in Gd-Sm nitrides and how Gd enhances Sm's spin alignment through exchange interactions.

Findings

Gd/Sm exchange interaction strengthens Sm spin alignment.

Guidance on composition for angular momentum compensation point.

Insights into magnetic dipole alignments in rare-earth nitrides.

Abstract

The rare-earth nitrides form a series of structurally simple $intrinsic$ ferromagnetic semiconductors, a rare class of both fundamental interest and application potential. Within the series there is a wide range of magnetic properties relating to the spin/orbit contributions to the ferromagnetic ground states. We report an x-ray magnetic circular dichroism investigation of the spin/orbit magnetic dipole alignments of Sm and Gd ions in epitaxial Gd$_x$Sm$_{1-x}$N films. The Sm spin-alignment expectation value $\langle S_{z} \rangle$ is seen to be strengthened by the Gd/Sm exchange interaction, providing guidance concerning the composition for an angular momentum compensation point (where the volume-averaged total angular momentum of a film is zero).