Optimizing Tc in the (Mn,Cr,Ga)As and (Mn,Ga)(As,P) Ternary Alloys

TL;DR

This study investigates whether co-doping MnGaAs with Cr or alloying As with P can enhance the critical temperature, finding that neither approach improves $T_c$ and alloying with Cr is actually detrimental.

Contribution

The paper uses linear response theory within the local-density approximation to evaluate the effects of co-doping and alloying on $T_c$ in MnGaAs-based alloys, providing theoretical insights.

Findings

Co-doping Mn with Cr does not increase $T_c$.

Alloying As with P does not improve $T_c$.

Cr co-doping is found to be deleterious to $T_c$.

Abstract

We explore two possible ways to enhance the critical temperature $T_c$ in the dilute magnetic semiconductor Mn$_{0.08}$Ga$_{0.92}$As. Within the context of the double-exchange and RKKY pictures, the ternary alloys Mn$_{x}$Cr$_{0.08-x}$Ga$_{0.92}$As and Mn$_{0.08}$Ga$_{0.92}$As$_y$P$_{1-y}$ might be expected to have $T_c$ higher than the pseudobinary Mn$_{0.08}$Ga$_{0.92}$As. To test whether the expectations from model pictures are confirmed, we employ linear response theory within the local-density approximation to search for theoretically higher critical temperatures in these ternary alloys. Our results show that neither co-doping Mn with Cr, nor alloying As with P improves $T_c$. Alloying with Cr is found to be deleterious to the $T_c$. Mn$_{0.08}$Ga$_{0.92}$As$_y$P$_{1-y}$ shows almost linear dependence of $T_c$ on $y$.