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Electronic and optical properties of (Al x Ga1−x )1−y Mn y As single crystal: a new candidate for integrated optical isolators and spintronics

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Abstract

We have explored the electronic and optical properties of cubic (Al x Ga1−x )1−y Mn y As system using the FP-LAPW method. The unit cell has 64 atoms, so that one manganese (Mn) atom is placed in the position of gallium site, which corresponds to 3.125 % doping concentration with x = 12.5 %. Our calculations, using local density approximation + U (Hubbard parameter) scheme, predict that the ferromagnetic state for AlGaMnAs, with a magnetic moment of about 4.014 μB per Mn dopant is more favorable. Despite its electronic properties being strongly affected by inducing small amounts of Mn substitutional atoms in the cationic sublattice of AlGaAs, (Al x Ga1−x )1−y Mn y As possesses optical properties strictly less than those of Al x Ga1−x As, especially its optical conductivity at the peak 1.256 eV. The results indicate that AlGaMnAs may be a good candidate for optoelectronics when exploited in optical fiber networks, and it can still be of great interest because of its promising potential when used for spintronics.

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Acknowledgements

One of the authors (Y.A.) would like to acknowledge the FRGS Grant #: 9003-00249 & 9003-00255 and TWAS-Italy, of his visit to JUST, Jordan under TWAS-UNESCO Associateship for full financial and technical supports, respectively. For Ali H. Reshak, his study was supported from the institutional research concept of the project CENAKVA (No. CZ.1.05/2.1.00/01.0024), the Grant No. 152/2010/Z of the Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia. The School of Materials Engineering, University Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Perlis, Malaysia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Materials Laboratory, Research Center, Sidi Bel Abbes University, 22000, Sidi Bel Abbés, Algeria

    B. Merabet & H. Abid

  2. Institute of Nano Electronic Engineering, University Malaysia Perlis, 01000, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia

    Y. Al-Douri

  3. School of Complex Systems, FFPW, CENAKVA, University of South Bohemia in CB, Nove Hrady, 37333, Czech Republic

    Ali H. Reshak

  4. School of Materials Engineering, University Malaysia Perlis, P.O. Box 77, d/a Pejabat Pos Besar, 01000, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia

    Ali H. Reshak

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  1. B. Merabet
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  2. Y. Al-Douri
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  3. H. Abid
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  4. Ali H. Reshak
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Correspondence to Y. Al-Douri or Ali H. Reshak.

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Merabet, B., Al-Douri, Y., Abid, H. et al. Electronic and optical properties of (Al x Ga1−x )1−y Mn y As single crystal: a new candidate for integrated optical isolators and spintronics. J Mater Sci 48, 758–764 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-012-6792-5

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