title: In-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in (Ga, Mn)As due to local lattice distortions around Mn²⁺ ions.
abstract: We theoretically investigate the interplay between local lattice distortions around the Mn(2+) impurity ion and its magnetization, mediated through spin-orbit coupling of holes. We show that the tetrahedral symmetry around the Mn(2+) ion is spontaneously broken and that local Jahn-Teller distortions coupled with growth strain result in uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. We also account for the experimentally observed in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy rotation due to variation of hole density. According to this model, lack of inversion and top-down symmetries of (Ga, Mn)As layers lead to in-plane biaxial symmetry breaking in the presence of Jahn-Teller distortions.
authors.affiliation: University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14226, USA. hs36@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Hemachander
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Subramanian
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Han