Zero-field spin-splitting and spin lifetime in n-InSb/In1-xAlxSb asymmetric quantum well heterostructures

A. M. Gilbertson, M. Fearn, J. H. Jefferson, B. N. Murdin, P. D. Buckle, L. F. Cohen

Published 2008-01-31, updated 2008-02-05Version 2

The spin-orbit (SO) coupling parameters for lowest conduction subband due to structural (SIA) and bulk (BIA) inversion asymmetry are calculated for a range of carrier densities in [001]-grown delta-doped n-type InSb/In1-xAlxSb asymmetric quantum wells using the established 8 band k.p formalism [PRB 59,8 R5312 (1999)]. We present calculations for conditions of zero bias at 10 K. It is shown that both the SIA and BIA parameters scale approximately linearly with carrier density, and exhibit a marked dependence on well width when alloy composition is adjusted to allow maximum upper barrier height for a given well width. In contrast to other material systems the BIA contribution to spin splitting is found to be of significant and comparable value to the SIA mechanism in these structures. We calculate the spin lifetime for spins oriented along [11-0] based on D'yakonov-Perel mechanism using both the theory of Averkiev et al. [J. Phys.:Condens. Matter 14 (2002)] and also the rate of precession of spins about the effective magnetic field, taking into account all three SO couplings, showing good agreement.Spin lifeime for this direction is largest in the narrow wells over the range of moderate carrier densities considered, which is attributed to the reduced magnitude of the k-cubic BIA parameter in narrow wells. The inherently large BIA induced SO coupling in these systems is shown to have considerable effect on the spin lifetime, which exhibits significant reduction in the maximum spin lifetime compared to previous studies which consider systems with relatively weak BIA induced SO coupling. The relaxation rate of spins oriented in the [001] direction is dominated by the k-linear SIA and BIA coupling parameters and at least an order of magnitude greater than in the [11-0] direction.