Geometrical spin dephasing in quantum dots

TL;DR

This paper investigates how geometrical factors and higher order effects influence spin relaxation and dephasing in quantum dots, revealing dominant mechanisms at low magnetic fields such as electron-hole excitations and noise.

Contribution

It introduces a new understanding of spin relaxation mechanisms in quantum dots, emphasizing the role of geometrical effects and higher order contributions at low magnetic fields.

Findings

Higher order effects dominate spin relaxation at low magnetic fields.

Relaxation is mainly due to coupling with electron-hole excitations and noise.

Phonons are less significant in the low-field relaxation process.

Abstract

We study spin-orbit mediated relaxation and dephasing of electron spins in quantum dots. We show that higher order contributions provide a relaxation mechanism that dominates for low magnetic fields and is of geometrical origin. In the low-field limit relaxation is dominated by coupling to electron-hole excitations and possibly $1/f$ noise rather than phonons.