Effect of lattice mismatch strains on the structure and magnetic, magneto-optical properties of MnSb films on GaAs substrate

Abstract

MnSb(1 0 1) thin films with different thicknesses have been successfully epitaxied on GaAs(1 0 0) substrates by the hot-wall epitaxy method. The effects of substrate-induced lattice strains on the structural, magnetic and magneto-optical properties of these films have been studied. It was found that the coercivity of the film increases (and the saturation magnetization decreases) with decreasing film thickness. Measurements of the Kerr rotation angle were made using a home-made magnetic optical Kerr effect system. The Kerr rotation angle increases with film thickness but no measurable angle is observed when the film thickness is about 27 nm. The shape of the Kerr rotation curve is found to be similar to the magnetic hysteresis loop measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer.