Magnetic anisotropy and switching process in diluted Ga[sub 1-x]Mn[sub x]As magnetic semiconductor films.

Magnetic anisotropy and magnetization reversal phenomena are studied in Ga[sub 1-x]Mn[sub x]As films grown on GaAs(001). From the azimuthal dependence of the magneto-optical Kerr rotation and magnetic linear dichroism, the in-plane <100> directions are unambiguously assigned as axes of easy magnetization. The values of the cubic and uniaxial anisotropies are determined. Magnetization reversal proceeds by noncoherent spin rotation and irreversible jumps by formation of 90° domains. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]