Exchange optics in Gd-doped EuO

Abstract

This paper is concerned with magneto-optical properties of EuO single crystals, doped with up to 5-at.% Gd. The optical absorption and the Faraday rotation have been measured above and below the magnetic-ordering temperatures and in various magnetic fields. In addition the reflectivity between 13 eV and 250 μm has been observed and the Curie temperature has been determined. The measurements permit the evaluation of the magnetic short-and long-range order. The exchange interaction between free electrons and $4f$ spins can be determined and is found to decrease with increasing doping. The analysis of the optical data permits the derivation of the carrier concentration, their mobility, and temperature dependence. The carrier concentration shows an exchange-induced ionization near $T_C$ for nondegenerate samples and the mobility has a sharp minimum at $T_C$. The transport parameters also reflect the fact that the electron-$4f$-spin interaction decreases with increasing Gd concentration, probably owing to electrostatic-shielding effects.