Antilocalization sensing of interactions between two-dimensional electrons and surface species

Abstract

We apply antilocalization measurements to experimentally study the interactions and exchange between InAs surface accumulation electrons and local magnetic moments of the rare earth ions Sm3+, Gd3+, Ho3+, and Dy3+, of the transition metal ions Ni2+, Co2+, and Fe3+, and of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and Fe3+-phthalocyanine deposited on the surface. The influence of the deposited species on the surface electrons is observed through the changes in the spin–orbit scattering and magnetic spin-flip scattering rates, which carry information about magnetic interactions. Experiments indicate a temperature-dependent magnetic spin-flip scattering for Ho3+, Dy3+, Ni2+, and Co2+. Concerning the spin–orbit scattering rate, we observe an increase, except for the cases of Ni2+, Fe3+, Fe3O4 nanoparticles and Fe3+-phthalocyanine. We also observe an increase in SO scattering in another system where we study the interactions of Au nanoparticles and ferromagnetic Co0.6Fe0.4 nanopillars and an In0.53Ga0.47As quantum well. Experimental results are analyzed and compared to theoretical models. Our method provides a controlled way to probe the quantum properties of two-dimensional electron systems, either on the surface of InAs or in a quantum well.