Laser controlled magnetization in bulk Zn1-x Mnx Te

Zn1–x Mnx Te crystals (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30) have been grown by the high pressure Bridgman technique. The free exciton energy of Zn1–x Mnx Te was determined from the photoluminescence and reflectance measurements in the temperature range from 1.7 to 270 K. The magneto‐photoluminescence and magneto‐reflectance were studied at T = 1.7 K and in magnetic fields up to 6 T. The magnetization of Zn1–x Mnx Te was calculated from the giant Zeeman effect. It was found that there is an efficient energy transfer channel from the photo‐excited carriers into the Mn2+ ions by spin‐flip scattering processes. It allows one to change the spin temperature of the Mn2+ subsystem and consequently to control its magnetization by tuning laser excitation density. The magnetization of the Zn1–x Mnx Te can be changed by 60% of its maximum value. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)