Spin-polarization effects in homogeneous and non-homogeneous diluted magnetic semiconductor heterostructures

Abstract

Spin polarization is a key characteristic in developing spintronic devices. Diluted magnetic heterostructures (DMH), where subsequent layers of conventional and diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) are alternate, are one of the possible ways to obtain it. Si being the basis of modern electronics, Si or other group-IV DMH can be used to build spintronic devices directly integrated with conventional ones. In this work we study the physical properties and the spin-polarization effects of p-type DMH based in group-IV semiconductors (Si, Ge, SiGe, and SiC), by performing self-consistent [Formula: see text] calculations in the local spin density approximation. We show that high spin polarization can be maintained in these structures below certain values of the carrier concentrations. Full spin polarization is attained in the low carrier concentration regime for carrier concentrations in the DMS layer up to approximately 2.0 x 10(19) cm(-3) for Si and up to approximately 6.0 x 10(19) cm(-3) for SiC. Partial, but still important spin polarization can be achieved for all studied group-IV DMH, with the exception of Ge for carrier concentrations up to 6.0 x 10(19) cm(-3). The role played by the effective masses and the energy splitting of the spin-orbit split-off hole bands is also discussed throughout the paper.

Electrical and magnetic transport properties of undoped and Ni doped ZnO thin films

“…Properties like large band gap (3.4 eV), long spin coherence (10.7 nm at 10 K) [8] and large exciton binding energy (60 meV) make it highly attractive for these applications. Efficient spin injection, transport and polarization are the key factors for the spintronic applications [9].…”