Tunable Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy in Off-Stoichiometric Full-Heusler Alloy Co_2MnAl

Off-stoichiometric full-Heusler alloy Co_2 MnAl thin films with different thicknesses are epitaxially grown on GaAs(001) substrates by molecular-beam epitaxy. The composition of the films, close to Co_(1.65)Mn_(1.35)Al(CMA),is determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Tunable perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) from 3.41 Merg/cm~3 to 1.88 Merg/cm~3 with the thickness increasing from 10 nm to 30 nm is found,attributed to the relaxation of residual compressive strain. Moreover, comparing with the ultrathin CoFeB/MgO used in the conventional perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction, the CMA electrode has a higher magnetic thermal stability with more volume involved. The PMA in CMA films is sustainable up to 300℃,compatible with semiconductor techniques. This work provides a possibility for the development of perpendicular magnetized full-Heusler compounds with high thermal stability and spin polarization.     

高质量稀磁半导体(Ga,Mn)Sb单晶薄膜分子束外延生长

理论预言窄禁带稀磁半导体(Ga,Mn)Sb及其异质结构可能存在量子反常霍尔效应等新奇特性, 近年来受到了特别关注. 但是, 由于(Ga,Mn)Sb薄膜生长窗口窄, 纯相(Ga,Mn)Sb薄膜制备比较困难, 迄今关于这类材料的研究报道为数不多. 本文采用低温分子束外延的方法, 通过优化生长条件, 成功制备出厚度为10 nm, Mn含量在0.016至0.039之间的多组(Ga,Mn)Sb薄膜样品. 生长过程中反射式高能电子衍射原位监测和磁性测量都表明没有MnSb等杂相的偏析, 同时原子力显微镜图像表明其表面形貌平滑, 粗糙度小. 通过生长后退火处理, (Ga,Mn)Sb薄膜的最高居里温度达到30 K. 此外, 本文研究了霍尔电阻和薄膜电阻随磁场的变化关系, 在低温下观测到明显的反常霍尔效应.     

Epitaxial Growth and Magnetic Properties of NiMnAs Films on GaAs Substrates

Single-phase Ni_(0.92)Mn_(1.08) As films with strained C_(1b) symmetry are grown on GaAs(001) substrates. In addition,a preferred epitaxial configuration of(110)-orientated Ni_(0.92)Mn_(1.08) As on(001)-orientated GaAs is revealed by synchrotron radiation measurement. The magnetic properties of the films are found to be significantly influenced by the growth temperature and the optimized growth temperature is determined to be ~370℃. According to the results of x-ray absorption spectroscopy, these phenomena can be attributed to the variation of the local electronic structure of the Mn atoms. Our work provides useful information for the further investigations of NiMnAs, which is a theoretically predicted half-metal.