Nano Letters 2, 605 (2002)
Influence of quantum confinement on the ferromagnetism of (Ga,Mn)As diluted
magnetic semiconductors
S. Sapra, D.D. Sarma, S. Sanvito and Nicola A. Hill
We investigate the effect of quantum confinement on the electronic structure of diluted magnetic
semiconductor Ga1-xMnxAs using a combination of tight-binding and density functional methods. We
observe half metallic behavior in the clusters as well as a strong majority-spin Mn d-As p hybridization
down to sizes as small as 20 Å in diameter. Below this size, the doped holes are significantly
self-trapped by the Mn sites, signaling both valence and electronic transitions. Our results imply
that magnetically doped III-V nanoparticles will provide a medium for manipulating the electronic
structure of dilute magnetic semiconductors while conserving the magnetic properties and even enhancing
them in certain size regimes.