Nanomechanical measurement of magnetostriction and magnetic anisotropy in (Ga,Mn)As

Phys Rev Lett. 2005 Oct 28;95(18):187206. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.187206. Epub 2005 Oct 28.

Abstract

A GaMnAs nanoelectromechanical resonator is used to obtain the first measurement of magnetostriction in a dilute magnetic semiconductor. Resonance frequency shifts induced by field-dependent magnetoelastic stress are used to simultaneously map the magnetostriction and magnetic anisotropy constants over a wide range of temperatures. Owing to the central role of carriers in controlling ferromagnetic interactions in this material, the results appear to provide insight into a unique form of magnetoelastic behavior mediated by holes.