Anisotropic spin splitting and spin relaxation in asymmetric zinc-blende semiconductor quantum structures

TL;DR

This paper investigates how anisotropic spin splitting influences spin relaxation in asymmetric zinc-blende quantum structures, revealing giant anisotropy and nonmonotonous density dependence of relaxation rates.

Contribution

It provides a self-consistent calculation of anisotropic spin splittings and relaxation rates, highlighting the interplay of bulk and quantum well asymmetries in spin dynamics.

Findings

Giant anisotropy of spin relaxation rates in the (001) plane.

One in-plane relaxation rate shows nonmonotonous dependence on carrier density.

Spin relaxation is closely linked to anisotropic spin splitting effects.

Abstract

Spin relaxation due to the D'yakonov-Perel' mechanism is intimately related with the spin splitting of the electronic states. We determine the spin relaxation rates from anisotropic spin splittings of electron subbands in n-(001) zinc-blende semiconductor quantum structures calculated self-consistently in the multi-band envelope function approach. The giant anisotropy of spin relaxation rates found for different spin-components in the (001) plane can be ascribed to the interplay between the bulk and quantum well inversion asymmetry. One of the in-plane relaxation rates may exhibit a striking nonmonotonous dependence on the carrier density.