Competing exchange interactions in Co-doped ZnO: Departure from the superexchange picture

 
S. D"Ambrosio,
 
V. Pashchenko,
 
J.-M. Mignot,
 
O. Ignatchik,
 
A. Savoyant,
 
Z. Golacki,
 
K. Grasza,
 
A. Stepanov
 

Інститут проблем матеріалознавства ім. І. М. Францевича НАН України , вул. Омеляна Пріцака, 3, Київ, 03142, Україна
Physical Review B - Меріленд, США: Американське Фізичне Суспільство (APS), 2012, #86
http://www.materials.kiev.ua/article/641

Анотація

We report the results of a comprehensive study of the exchange interactions in Co-doped ZnO using inelastic neutron scattering, electron paramagnetic resonance, and magnetic property measurements. In particular, we observe an unprecedentedly strong spatial anisotropy of the two nearest-neighbor exchanges, J(1)=-25.6±0.3 K and J(2)=-8.5±0.4 K, along with the distant-neighbor J values of ferromagnetic sign. We argue that the superexchange mechanism alone cannot account for the obtained data and we suggest that an additional mechanism leading to a strong ferromagnetic spin coupling is responsible for these findings. We also discuss the origin of this ferromagnetic mechanism.