Dynamic relaxation of magnetic clusters in a ferromagnetic (Ga,Mn)As epilayer

Abstract

A new scenario of the mechanism of intriguing ferromagnetic properties in Mn-doped magnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As is examined in detail. We find that magnetic features seen in zero-field cooled and field cooled magnetizations are not interpreted with a single domain model [Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 217204 (2005)], and the magnetic relaxation, which is similar to that seen in magnetic particles and granular systems, is becoming significant at temperatures above the lower-temperature peak in the temperature dependence of ac susceptibility, supporting the cluster/matrix model reported in our previous work [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 147203 (2005)]. Cole-Cole analysis reveals that magnetic interactions between such (Ga,Mn)As clusters are significant at temperatures below the higher-temperature peak in the temperature dependent ac susceptibility. The magnetizations of these films disappear above the temperature showing the higher-temperature peak, which is generally referred to as the Curie temperature. However, we suggest that these combined results are evidence that the temperature is actually the blocking temperature of (Ga,Mn)As clusters with a relatively high hole concentration compared to the (Ga,Mn)As matrix.