Strong anisotropy of the photoluminescence linewidth in biaxially strainedZn1-x-yCdyMnxSe

The linewidth of the quasi-free exciton of biaxially strained Zn1-x-yCdyMnx Se varies strongly with increasing magnetic field. The dependences on magne tic field obtained in a Voigt geometry (B perpendicular to k propagation ve ctor of the detected light and growth direction z perpendicular to B) and a Faraday geometry (B parallel to k and z parallel to B) differ significantl y. The linewidth dependences can be explained using a static model based on cation statistics within a characteristic (excitonic) volume and taking in to account heavy- acid light-hole mixing. It is shown that the potential la ndscape changes on a microscopic as well as on a mesoscopic scale. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.