Magneto-optical Kerr effect in short-period CdTe/MnTe superlattices

Abstract

Magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) studies of biaxially strained ${(\mathrm{CdTe})}_{n}/{(\mathrm{MnTe})}_{n}$ superlattices give evidence of an antiferromagnetic ordering as well as of paramagnetic behavior (bulk MnTe is an antiferromagnet with ${T}_{N}\ensuremath{\approx}70\mathrm{K}$). With increasing $n$, paramagnetic behavior becomes dominant in the MOKE signals, apparently caused by the lack of spin ordering at the $(\mathrm{CdTe})/(\mathrm{MnTe})$ interfaces for wider CdTe wells. Apart from the magnetic properties, the MOKE signals also yield information on the electronic interband transitions involving heavy-hole and electron subbands, centered in the CdTe quantum wells.