GaMnAs/GaAs films were grown via molecular beam epitaxy using both low and high substrate temperatures. The films were investigated using Hall effect and photoluminescence (PL) measurements from 8 to 300 K. The carrier concentrations in the samples grown at a low substrate temperature are greater than those in the samples grown at a high substrate temperature. The PL spectra show a GaAs exciton peak, a peak involving a carbon acceptor, a substitutional Mn acceptor-related peak and an optical phonon-related peak. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.