The properties of magneto-optical MnBiR (R=In, Ge, and Sn) thin films

The crystal structures and the magneto-optical properties of MnBiR (R=Ge, In, and Sn) thin films are reported. We found that doping MnBi films with Ge enhances their Kerr rotation angle θk(θk=2.1°, at λ=633 nm). It is thus possible to consider MnBi film doped with Ge a good candidate of magneto-optical recording material. In contrast, MnBi films doped with In or Sn loose the original NiAs-type hcp structure and correspondingly the Kerr rotation angle θk, is decreased.