High sensitivity detection of radio-frequency modulated magnetic moment in semiconductors

Abstract

An experimental setup has been realized to measure weak magnetic moments which can be modulated at radio frequencies (~1-5 MHz). Using an optimized radio-frequency (RF) pickup coil and lock-in amplifier, an experimental sensitivity of 10(-15) Am(2) corresponding to 10(-18) emu has been demonstrated with a 1 s time constant. The detection limit at room temperature is 9.3 × 10(-16) Am(2)/√Hz limited by Johnson noise of the coil. The setup has been used to directly measure the magnetic moment due to a small number (~7 × 10(8)) of spin polarized electrons generated by polarization modulated optical radiation in GaAs and Ge.