Magneto-optical Kerr effect in short-period CdTe/MnTe superlattices

Magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) studies of biaxially strained ${\mathrm{}\left(\mathrm{CdTe}\right)\mathrm{}}_n/{\mathrm{}\left(\mathrm{MnTe}\right)\mathrm{}}_n$ superlattices give evidence of an antiferromagnetic ordering as well as of paramagnetic behavior (bulk MnTe is an antiferromagnet with $T_N\approx 70\mathrm{K}$). With increasing $n$, paramagnetic behavior becomes dominant in the MOKE signals, apparently caused by the lack of spin ordering at the $\left(\mathrm{CdTe}\right)/\left(\mathrm{MnTe}\right)$ interfaces for wider CdTe wells. Apart from the magnetic properties, the MOKE signals also yield information on the electronic interband transitions involving heavy-hole and electron subbands, centered in the CdTe quantum wells.