Hiroaki Yoshitomi

Study on spin-splitting phenomena in the band structure of GdN

An exceptional kind of spin splitting in the band structure of AlN/GdN/AlN double heterostructures has been studied by employing temperature-dependent spectroscopy. This spin splitting can be attributed to both the band-gap shrink and the difference between minority and majority band energies in GdN below the Curie point; these results have been established by evaluating the optical band gaps at the X-point. The temperature-dependent magnetization measurements that provide direct evidence of the magnetic ordering below 32 K and it is described by long-range spin correlation in GdN.

Ferromagnetic properties of GdN thin films studied by temperature dependent circular polarized spectroscopy

Magneto-optical properties of GdN thin films have been investigated by employing temperature dependent optical circular dichroism spectroscopy and angular dependent resonance field measurement. Spin-splitting in the band structure of GdN thin films has been evaluated by optical circular dichroism absorbance spectra, and the manifested spin-splitting energy ascribed to the difference between majority and minority spin band states in GdN. The plot of left circular polarization and right circular polarization bandgap reflects the half-hysteresis loop (positive side) trend, which is evidenced by magnetization measurements. The angular dependent resonance field measurements showed strong magnetic anisotropy along in-plane of GdN, which is attributed to the disturbance in the spin alignment in GdN. We demonstrate that the ferromagnetic properties depend on the film thickness. These results provide a pathway to control the spin ordering using circularly polarized light and the magnetic anisotropy.

Influence of local atomic configuration in AlGdN phosphor thin films on deep ultra-violet luminescence intensity

We investigated the narrowband ultraviolet emission properties of Al0.94Gd0.06N phosphor thin films pumped by an electron beam. An extremely narrow luminescence line, which was less than 1 nm from the intra-orbital f-f transition in Gd3+ ions, was confirmed at 318 nm. The corresponding emission efficiency was improved by decreasing the growth temperature. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis of the local atomic structure revealed that a low-temperature growth led to the formation of a uniform atomic configuration around Gd, which was found to play a key role in improving the luminescence intensity of the films.

Magneto-optical effect in GdN epitaxial thin film

We report the cooperative phenomena of magneto-optical effect in AlN/GdN/AlN heterostructure grown by reactive rf magnetron sputtering technique performed under a base pressure less than 5×10−6 Pa. The ultra-high vacuum conditions during growth of GdN enable to curtail the oxophilicity character. The temperature dependent optical absorbance measurements have been carried out to evaluate the direct optical band gaps at the X point through the Tauc plots for the heterostructure. We observed for the first time that the optical absorbance studies demonstrate an exceptional splitting in valance and conduction bands in GdN below the critical temperature. The splitting energy is slightly increased with increase of temperature range of 30–55 K and the difference is merely ΔE=28 meV. Furthermore, the splitting energy drastically increases from 30 K to 3 K and the difference is ΔE=102 meV. This startling increase convincing that there is rapid increase of magnetic moments caused by long range correlation of spins.

Microscopic properties of degradation-free capped GdN thin films studied by electron spin resonance

The microscopic magnetic properties of high-quality GdN thin films have been investigated by electron spin resonance (ESR) and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurements. Detailed temperature dependence ESR measurements have shown the existence of two ferromagnetic components at lower temperatures, which was not clear from the previous magnetization measurements. The temperature, where the resonance shift occurs for the major ferromagnetic component, seems to be consistent with the Curie temperature obtained from the previous magnetization measurement. On the other hand, the divergence of line width is observed around 57 K for the minor ferromagnetic component. The magnetic anisotropies of GdN thin films have been obtained by the analysis of FMR angular dependence observed at 4.2 K. Combining the X-ray diffraction results, the correlation between the magnetic anisotropies and the lattice constants is discussed.

Evaluation of minority and majority spin band energies of ferromagnetic GdN thin film using optical absorption spectroscopy

Temperature dependent optical Tauc plots of AlN/GdN/AlN heterostructures have showed two optically induced transitions, and those optical transitions could be attributed to the minority and majority spin band energy. In contrast, temperature dependent magnetization measurements of GdN thin film provide direct evidence of spin ordering below 39 K, and which is also evidenced by Arrott plots.

Ferromagnetic State of GdN Thin Film Studied by Ferromagnetic Resonance

Magnetic semiconductor GdN thin film has been studied by a conventional X‐band electron spin resonance (ESR). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of GdN is observed at 100 K while the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) is clearly observed at 4.2 K, which is confirmed by the typical angular dependence of FMR. The result will be discussed in connection with the magnetic properties obtained previously by our SQUID magnetometer measurement.