Effect of lattice mismatch strains on the structure and magnetic, magneto-optical properties of MnSb films on GaAs substrate

MnSb(1 0 1) thin films with different thicknesses have been successfully ep itaxied on GaAs(1 0 0) substrates by the hot-wall epitaxy method. The effec ts of substrate-induced lattice strains on the structural, magnetic and mag neto-optical properties of these films have been studied. It was found that the coercivity of the film increases (and the saturation magnetization dec reases) with decreasing film thickness. Measurements of the Kerr rotation a ngle were made using a home-made magnetic optical Kerr effect system. The K err rotation angle increases with film thickness but no measurable angle is observed when the film thickness is about 27 nm. The shape of the Kerr rot ation curve is found to be similar to the magnetic hysteresis loop measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.