Molecular-beam epitaxy of Mn1+xSb thin films and substrate temperature dependence of their magneto-optical properties

Abstract

Ferromagnetic Mn1+xSb thin films have been grown on (001) GaAs substrates by molecular-beam epitaxy at substrate temperatures (TS) in the range from 50 to 400 °C. The excess Mn composition (x) of the grown films was found to change uniquely depending on TS. The polar magneto-optical Kerr effect measurement demonstrated a strong TS dependence of Kerr rotation and Kerr ellipticity spectra of Mn1+xSb films from the infrared through ultraviolet wavelength region. A possible origin of the TS dependence of the spectra is discussed in connection with the composition of Mn1+xSb films.