Influence of spin-orbit interaction on quantum cascade transitions

TL;DR

This paper explores how spin-orbit coupling influences the emission spectra of quantum cascade lasers, revealing a double-peak structure under specific magnetic field conditions and quantum well configurations.

Contribution

It demonstrates the impact of spin-orbit interaction on optical spectra and identifies conditions for observing spectral splitting in quantum cascade lasers.

Findings

Double-peak spectral structure appears under certain magnetic fields.

Spin-orbit coupling varies across quantum wells affects spectra.

Spectral features are specific to diagonal optical transitions.

Abstract

We have investigated the effect of spin-orbit (SO) coupling on the emission spectra of a quantum cascade laser. In an externally applied magnetic field parallel to the electron plane, the SO coupling would result in a double-peak structure of the optical spectra. This structure can be observed within some interval of magnetic fields and only for diagonal optical transitions when the SO coupling is different in different quantum wells.