Constraints on Proximity-Induced Ferromagnetism in a Dirac Semimetal (Cd3As2)/Ferromagnetic Semiconductor (Ga1-xMnxSb) Heterostructure

Published

September 11, 2023

Author(s)

Arpita Mitra, Run Xiao, Wilson Yanez, Yongxi Ou, Juan Chamorro, Tyrel M. McQueen, Alexander Grutter, Julie A. Borchers, Michael R. Fitzsimmons, Timothy Charlton, Nitin Samarth

Abstract

Breaking time-reversal symmetry in a Dirac semimetal Cd3As2 through doping with magnetic ions or by the magnetic proximity effect is expected to cause a transition to other topological phases (such as a Weyl semimetal). To this end, we investigate the possibility of proximity-induced ferromagnetic ordering in epitaxial Dirac semimetal (Cd3As2)/ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga1−xMnxSb) heterostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy. We report the comprehensive characterization of these heterostructures using structural probes (atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction, scanning transmission electron microscopy), angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, electrical magnetotransport, magnetometry, and polarized neutron reflectometry. Measurements of the magnetoresistance and Hall effect in the temperature range 2–20 K show signatures that could be consistent with either a proximity effect or spin-dependent scattering of charge carriers in the Cd3As2 channel. Polarized neutron reflectometry sets constraints on the interpretation of the magnetotransport studies by showing that (at least for temperatures above 6 K) any induced magnetization in the Cd3As2 itself must be relatively small (<14 emu/cm3 ).

Citation

Physical Review Materials

Volume

7

Issue

9

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

Magnetism, Topology, Dirac Semimetal, Neutron Reflectometry, Magnetic Proximity Effect

Citation

Mitra, A. , Xiao, R. , Yanez, W. , Ou, Y. , Chamorro, J. , McQueen, T. , Grutter, A. , Borchers, J. , Fitzsimmons, M. , Charlton, T. and Samarth, N. (2023), Constraints on Proximity-Induced Ferromagnetism in a Dirac Semimetal (Cd3As2)/Ferromagnetic Semiconductor (Ga1-xMnxSb) Heterostructure, Physical Review Materials, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=956171 (Accessed October 10, 2025)