Spin precession and alternating spin polarization in spin-3/2 hole systems

Abstract

The spin density matrix for spin-3/2 hole systems can be decomposed into a sequence of multipoles which has important higher-order contributions beyond the ones known for electron systems [R. Winkler, Phys. Rev. B \textbf{70}, 125301 (2004)]. We show here that the hole spin polarization and the higher-order multipoles can precess due to the spin-orbit coupling in the valence band, yet in the absence of external or effective magnetic fields. Hole spin precession is important in the context of spin relaxation and offers the possibility of new device applications. We discuss this precession in the context of recent experiments and suggest a related experimental setup in which hole spin precession gives rise to an alternating spin polarization.

4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Physical Review Letters

References in corpus (5)

• Dissipationless Quantum Spin Current at Room Temperature
• Zitterbewegung of electronic wave packets in semiconductor nanostructures
• Small-angle impurity scattering and the spin Hall conductivity in 2D systems
• Anomalous Spin Polarization of GaAs Two-Dimensional Hole Systems
• Spin Density Matrix of Spin-3/2 Hole Systems

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Oscillatory multiband dynamics of free particles: The ubiquity of zitterbewegung effects
• Spin Orientation of Holes in Quantum Wells
• Large variations in the hole spin splitting of quantum-wire subband edges
• Weak momentum scattering and the conductivity of graphene
• Spin polarization decay in spin-1/2 and spin-3/2 systems
• Tunable Aharonov-Anandan phase in transport through mesoscopic hole rings
• The quadrupole mechanism of hole spin relaxation