Following enhanced Sm spin projection in Gd${}_x$Sm${}_{1-x}$N

The rare-earth nitrides form a series of structurally simple $intrinsic$ ferromagnetic semiconductors, a rare class of both fundamental interest and application potential. Within the series there is a wide range of magnetic properties relating to the spin/orbit contributions to the ferromagnetic ground states. We report an x-ray magnetic circular dichroism investigation of the spin/orbit magnetic dipole alignments of Sm and Gd ions in epitaxial Gd${}_x$Sm${}_{1-x}$N films. The Sm spin-alignment expectation value $⟨S_z⟩$ is seen to be strengthened by the Gd/Sm exchange interaction, providing guidance concerning the composition for an angular momentum compensation point (where the volume-averaged total angular momentum of a film is zero).