Role of finite layer thickness in spin-polarization of GaAs 2D electrons in strong parallel magnetic fields

TL;DR

This paper investigates how finite layer thickness affects spin-polarization in dilute 2D GaAs electron systems under strong parallel magnetic fields, combining measurements and calculations.

Contribution

It introduces the significant impact of non-zero electron layer thickness on spin-polarization, energy surface deformation, and effective parameters in 2D GaAs systems.

Findings

Layer thickness causes energy surface deformation.

Enhanced effective mass and g-factor observed.

Spin-polarization exhibits non-linear behavior with field.

Abstract

We report measurements and calculations of the spin-polarization, induced by a parallel magnetic field, of interacting, dilute, two-dimensional electron systems confined to GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures. The results reveal the crucial role the non-zero electron layer thickness plays: it causes a deformation of the energy surface in the presence of a parallel field, leading to enhanced values for the effective mass and g-factor and a non-linear spin-polarization with field.