Relaxation of the Shallow Acceptor Center in Germanium
T. N. Mamedov, A. S. Baturin*, V. N. Duginov, K. I. Gritsaj, R. Khasanov×, A. Maisuradze×, A. V. Stoykov×
Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Russia
*Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia
×Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
Abstract
Polarized negative muons were used to study relaxation mechanisms
of shallow acceptors in germanium. In p-type germanium at low temperatures
relaxation of the muon spin was observed, indicating that the muonic atom
(gallium-like acceptor center) formed via capture of the negative muon
by a host atom is in the paramagnetic state and its magnetic moment is
relaxing. The relaxation rate of the muon spin was found to depend on
temperature and on concentration of gallium impurity. We conclude that to
the relaxation of the magnetic moment of the Ga acceptor in Ge there
contribute both scattering of phonons and quadrupole interaction between
the acceptors. We estimate, for the first time, the hyperfine interaction
constant for the gallium acceptor in germanium as MHz.