Magnetic properties of NiMnSb films

Abstract

Thin polycrystalline films of half-metallic ferromagnetic NiMnSb compound have been successfully prepared by simultaneous evaporation of Ni, Mn, and Sb elements onto heated glass and sapphire substrates. X-ray diffraction, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and Auger studies confirmed the quality of the films and surface composition. Magnetization and Kerr rotation obtained for these films agree well with those made on a single crystal of NiMnSb. Using electron tunneling techniques, attempts have been made to measure the conduction electron spin polarization, which is theoretically predicted to be large.