Molecular-beam epitaxy of Mn1+xSb thin films and substrate temperature dependence of their magneto-optical properties

Ferromagnetic Mn1+xSb thin films have been grown on (001) GaAs substrates by molecular-beam epitaxy at substrate temperatures (T-S) in the range from 50 to 400 degrees C. The excess Mn composition (x) Of the grown films was found to change uniquely depending on T-S. The polar magneto-optical Kerr effect measurement demonstrated a strong T-S dependence of Ii;err rotation and Kerr ellipticity spectra of Mn1+xSb films from the infrared through ultraviolet wavelength region. A possible origin of the T-S dependence of the spectra is discussed in connection with the composition of Mn1+xSb films. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.