Rashba coupling in quantum dots: exact solution

TL;DR

This paper provides an exact analytical solution for Rashba spin-orbit coupling in quantum dots, revealing detailed energy spectra, wave-functions, and spin relaxation behaviors, including suppression effects and non-perturbative phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces an exact solution to Rashba coupling in quantum dots, enabling precise analysis of spin dynamics beyond perturbation theory.

Findings

Effective gyromagnetic ratio is strongly suppressed by spin-orbit coupling.

Spin-flip relaxation rate peaks at intermediate coupling levels.

Relaxation rates are suppressed in both weak and strong coupling regimes.

Abstract

We present an analytic solution to the problem of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling in semiconductor quantum dots. We calculate the exact energy spectrum, wave-functions, and spin--flip relaxation times. We discuss various effects inaccessible via perturbation theory. In particular, we find that the effective gyromagnetic ratio is strongly suppressed by the spin-orbit coupling. The spin-flip relaxation rate has a maximum as a function of the spin-orbit coupling and is therefore suppressed in both the weak- and strong coupling limits.