ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the growth and basic magnetic, magnetoresistive and magneto-optical properties of the InMnAs ferromagnetic semiconductor system. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure was measured to determine whether clusters form in the InMnAs; initial analysis indicates that dimers and trimers form. Magnetotransport studies can give insight into the magnetic properties of thin films. The longitudinal resistivity of InMnAs shows a complex temperature and magnetic field dependence. Epitaxial InMnAs has been shown to exhibit both visible and mid-infrared magneto-optical Kerr effect at room temperature. The bands of the InMnAs in the heterojunction are spin split in the presence of a magnetic field, and enhanced scattering of the spin split carriers is observed. For low fields and low temperatures a negative magnetoresistance for junctions would be expected from the low temperature magnetoresistance measurements on epitaxial InMnAs and the theory of scattering in magnetic semiconductors.
