Mechanically detected field‐induced Mn spin rotation in GaMnAs

Abstract

To study the magnetization properties of a micron‐sized GnMnAs film, we characterize the mechanical properties of a micro‐cantilever integrating a GaMnAs Hall bar. The magnetic field dependence of its mechanical resonance frequency below the Curie temperature is remarkably different from that above the Curie temperature. The frequency shift, which reflects the field‐induced Mn spin rotation, is mainly caused by the magnetoelastic coupling. This result demonstrates that a micromechanical cantilever is a powerful tool for investigating the magnetic properties of micrometer‐sized ferromagnetic materials. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)