Soft X-ray Absorption and Photoemission Studies of Ferromagnetic Mn-Implanted 3$C$-SiC

Abstract

We have performed x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and resonant photoemission spectroscopy (RPES) measurements of Mn-implanted 3$C$-SiC (3$C$-SiC:Mn) and carbon-incorporated Mn${}_5$Si${}_2$ (Mn${}_5$Si${}_2$:C). The Mn 2$p$ core-level XPS and XAS spectra of 3$C$-SiC:Mn and Mn${}_5$Si${}_2$:C were similar to each other and showed "intermediate" behaviors between the localized and itinerant Mn 3$d$ states. The intensity at the Fermi level was found to be suppressed in 3$C$-SiC:Mn compared with Mn${}_5$Si${}_2$:C. These observations are consistent with the formation of Mn${}_5$Si${}_2$:C clusters in the 3$C$-SiC host, as observed in a recent transmission electron microscopy study.

4 pages, 3 figures