2004/01/21 by A. A. Burkov, Leon Balents · 5 citations
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Asymmetry #Condensed matter physics #Electron #Fermi gas #Magnetic field #Perpendicular #Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Quantum mechanics #Relaxation (psychology) #Semiconductor materials and devices #Spin (aerodynamics) #Spin polarization #Transverse plane #cond-mat.mes-hall
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevb.69.245312
published as PRB 69, 245312 (2004). · 6 pages, 1 eps figure
arxiv created 2004/01/21 · openalex publication_date 2004/06/18 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We consider the problem of spin relaxation in a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in a perpendicular magnetic field. We assume that the spin relaxation is induced by the Rashba spin-orbit (SO) interaction, which appears due to the inversion asymmetry of the confining potential. Our solution is based on a microscopic evaluation of the spin-density response function of the 2DEG with impurities and SO interaction. We derive explicit expressions for the transverse and longitudinal spin-relaxation rates. Our analysis shows, in particular, that the spin-relaxation rates exhibit magnetoquantum oscillations, which are analogous to the Shubnikov--de Haas oscillations of the electrical resistivity. These oscillations can be observed, for example, in time-resolved optical experiments.