Spin properties of single electron states in coupled quantum dots

TL;DR

This study investigates how spin-orbit interactions affect single-electron states in coupled GaAs quantum dots under magnetic fields, revealing weak effects on g-factors but enabling spin-charge conversion through spin-dependent tunneling.

Contribution

It provides a detailed numerical and group theoretical analysis of spin properties in coupled quantum dots, highlighting the role of Dresselhaus and Rashba couplings in spin dynamics.

Findings

Spin-orbit effects on g-factor are weak.

Cubic Dresselhaus term influences tunneling frequency.

Spin hot spots occur at moderate magnetic fields.

Abstract

Spin properties of single electron states in laterally coupled quantum dots in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field are studied by exact numerical diagonalization. Dresselhaus (linear and cubic) and Bychkov-Rashba spin-orbit couplings are included in a realistic model of confined dots based on GaAs. Group theoretical classification of quantum states with and without spin orbit coupling is provided. Spin-orbit effects on the g-factor are rather weak. It is shown that the frequency of coherent oscillations (tunneling amplitude) in coupled dots is largely unaffected by spin-orbit effects due to symmetry requirements. The leading contributions to the frequency involves the cubic term of the Dresselhaus coupling. Spin-orbit coupling in the presence of magnetic field leads to a spin-dependent tunneling amplitude, and thus to the possibility of spin to charge conversion, namely spatial separation of spin by coherent oscillations in a uniform magnetic field. It is also shown that spin hot spots exist in coupled GaAs dots already at moderate magnetic fields, and that spin hot spots at zero magnetic field are due to the cubic Dresselhaus term only.