Magneto-optical and transport studies of ZnO-based dilute magnetic semiconductors

Abstract Thin film samples of ZnO doped with V were grown on sapphire substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The magnetization was measured by SQUID magnetometry and the films were found to be ferromagnetic at room temperature. The transmission, Faraday rotation and magnetic circular dichroism were measured as a function of frequency at room temperature over an energy range of 1.5–4.0 eV and carrier concentrations were determined from Hall effect measurements. Clear magneto-optical signals that are ferromagnetic in origin were observed at the ZnO band edge and the optimal conditions for observing large ferromagnetic magneto-optic signals are discussed.