Mn L3,2 X-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism in ferromagnetic Ga1-xMnxP

TL;DR

This study investigates the electronic and magnetic properties of ferromagnetic Ga1-xMnxP using X-ray absorption and dichroism techniques, revealing significant spin polarization and similarities to Ga1-xMnxAs.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed XAS and XMCD analysis of Ga1-xMnxP, showing comparable hybridization and magnetic behavior to Ga1-xMnxAs.

Findings

Large XMCD asymmetries at Mn L3 edge indicate strong spin polarization.

Temperature dependence of XMCD aligns with magnetometry data.

Spectral shapes suggest similar Mn d and anion p hybridization in Ga1-xMnxP and Ga1-xMnxAs.

Abstract

We have measured the X-ray absorption (XAS) and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD)at the Mn L3,2 edges in ferromagnetic Ga1-xMnxP for 0.018<x<0.042. Large XMCD asymmetries at the L3 edge indicate significant spin-polarization of the density of states at the Fermi energy. The temperature dependence of the XMCD and moment per Mn of 2.67 Bohr magnetons calculated using sum rules are consistent with magnetometry values. The spectral shapes of the XAS and XMCD are nearly identical with those for Ga1-xMnxAs indicating that the hybridization of Mn d and anion p states is similar in the two materials.