Abstract
We have investigated the spin-relaxation process of electrons at room temperature in undoped GaAs/AlGaAs multiple-quantum wells (MQWs) and InGaAs/InP MQWs. The spin-relaxation times are measured for different well thicknesses using time-resolved spin-dependent pump and probe absorption measurement. The spin-relaxation time, τs, for GaAs MQWs was found to depend on the electron confinement energy, E1e, according to τs ∝ E1e -2.2, demonstrating that the main spin-relaxation mechanism at room temperature is the D'yakonov-Perel' process. The measured spin-relaxation times of InGaAs MQWs whose band-gap is about half that of GaAs MQWs arc about 5 ps and vary depending on the quantum confinement energy, E1e, according to τs ∝ E1e -1.0. The spin-relaxation time by Elliott-Yafet process, which becomes stronger for narrower band-gap materials, is calculated for quantum wells and shown to vary according to τs ∝ E1e -1. The spin-relaxation mechanism and possible applications using this fast spin-relaxation process are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4680-4687 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Part 1: Regular Papers and Short Notes and Review Papers |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 8 B |
| Publication status | Published - 1999 Aug 15 |
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Keywords
- D'yakonov-Perel'
- Electron
- Elliott-Yafet
- InGaAs
- MOW
- Spin-relaxation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)