Hopping Conduction Near the Metal-Insulator Transition in CdMnTe:In and Evidence for a Magnetic Hard Gap in the Density of States
Abstract
A series of resistivity curves is obtained as a function carrier concentration in just one sample of the dilute magnetic persistent photoconductor Cd0.91Mn0.09Te:In. The measurements, made at carrier concentrations approaching the metal-insulator transition, reveal a cross-over from an exp(To/T)1/2 dependence to an exp(EH/T) form when lowering temperature. The exp(To/T)1/2 dependence is characteristic of variable range hopping in the presence of Coulomb interactions, while the energy EH in the activated form is associated with a hard gap in the density of states that is magnetic in origin. All the data are shown to scale onto a single curve. The localization length. ξ, is found to have the same critical dependence on carrier concentration as that of the measured dielectric constant, κ, when approaching the metal-insulator transition. The temperature dependence of the resistivity is interpreted in terms of the orientation of Mn spins by carriers due to the s-d exchange interaction (the formation of magnetic polarons). This model can also account for the large positive and negative magnetoresistance observed in Cd0.91Mn0.09Te:In at low temperatures.
- Publication:
-
International Journal of Modern Physics B
- Pub Date:
- 1994
- DOI:
- 10.1142/S0217979294000452
- Bibcode:
- 1994IJMPB...8..905T