Nanoscale spin polarization in the dilute magnetic semiconductor (In,Mn)Sb

Results of point contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) experiments on (In,Mn)Sb are presented and analyzed in terms of current models of charge conversion at a superconductor-ferromagnet interface. We investigate the influence of surface transparency, and study the crossover from ballistic to diffusive transport regime as contact size is varied. Application of a Nb tip to a (In,Mn)Sb sample with Curie temperature Tc of 5.4 K allowed the determination of spin-polarization when the ferromagnetic phase transition temperature is crossed. We find a striking difference between the temperature dependence of the local spin polarization and of the macroscopic magnetization, and demonstrate that nanoscale clusters with magnetization close to the saturated value are present even well above the magnetic phase transition temperature.
4 pages