The magnetoelectric effect in nickel–GaAs–nickel structures

We have experimentally studied the magnetoelectric (ME) effect in structures obtained by the electrolytic deposition of nickel onto gallium arsenide substrates. It is established that the use of a pre-deposited Ni–Au–Ge–Ni buffer sublayer significantly improves the adhesion of electroplated nickel to substrate. The resulting Ni–GaAs–Ni structures are featuring both linear and nonlinear ME effects with respect to the alternating magnetic field. Both these effects exhibit a resonance character, the resonance frequency of the nonlinear ME effect being two times lower than that for the linear effect.