Carrier-induced ferromagnetism in p-Zn1-xMnxTe - art. no. 085201

We present a systematic study of the ferromagnetic transition induced by th e holes in nitrogen doped Zn1-xMnxTe epitaxial layers, with particular emph asis on the values of the Curie-Weiss temperature as a function of the carr ier and spin concentrations. The data are obtained from thorough analyses o f the results of magnetization, magnetoresistance, and spin-dependent Hall effect measurements. The experimental findings compare favorably, without a djustable parameters, with the prediction of the Rudermann-Kittel-Kasuya-Yo sida (RKKY) model or its continuous-medium limit, that is, the Zener model, provided that the presence of the competing antiferromagnetic spin-spin su perexchange interaction is taken into account, and the complex structure of the valence band is properly incorporated into the calculation of the spin susceptibility of the hole liquid. In general terms, the findings demonstr ate how the interplay between the ferromagnetic RKKY interaction, carrier l ocalization, and intrinsic antiferromagnetic superexchange affects the orde ring temperature and the saturation value of magnetization in magnetically and electrostatically disordered systems.