Spin Orientation of Holes in Quantum Wells

TL;DR

This paper reviews the unique spin orientation phenomena of holes in quantum wells, highlighting differences from electron systems, and discusses spin splitting, precession, and decay regimes using a multipole expansion approach.

Contribution

It provides a systematic understanding of hole spin-dependent phenomena in quantum wells, emphasizing the multipole expansion of the spin density matrix.

Findings

Distinct Zeeman and Rashba spin splitting in hole systems

Spin precession can lead to alternating spin polarization

Different decay regimes of hole spin polarization in clean and dirty samples

Abstract

This paper reviews the spin orientation of spin-3/2 holes in quantum wells. We discuss the Zeeman and Rashba spin splitting in hole systems that are qualitatively different from their counterparts in electron systems. We show how a systematic understanding of the unusual spin-dependent phenomena in hole systems can be gained using a multipole expansion of the spin density matrix. As an example we discuss spin precession in hole systems that can give rise to an alternating spin polarization. Finally, we discuss the qualitatively different regimes of hole spin polarization decay in clean and dirty samples.