Faraday rotation in Fe-based semimagnetic semiconductors

The dependence of Faraday rotation (FR) of the light polarization phase on the radiation wavelength, the temperature, and the magnetic field for Fe-doped crystals of CdTe and CdSe is investigated. The Faraday effect enhancement due to s,p-d exchange interaction is found for Fe-doped SMS (semimagnetic semiconductors). The variation of s,p-d exchange interaction constants estimated for CdTe:Fe samples corresponds to the values known for Mn-containing SMS. Along with a steep drop of the oscillator strength, exciton transition as a consequence of Fe impurity introduction causes a substantial decrease of the Faraday effect amplifying degree in such materials. This phenomenon and the insufficient solubility of Fe-atoms in CdTe and CdSe lattices make the realization of applied aspects of SMS difficult