Spin Properties Of Holes Research Articles

Spin properties of Hg1–xCdx Te/CdTe quantum wells

AbstractFree electron and hole spin properties in Hg1–x Cdx Te/CdTe quantum wells (QWs) are considered within eight‐band k · p Hamiltonian, when the QW bands are inverted, or close to the inversion. The generic spin properties of 2D subbands are described by spin surface, an analogue of the Bloch sphere. In the inverted energy band arrangement, due to mutual interaction between conduction and valence subbands, strong deviation from the Bloch sphere is observed. However, at the normal band arrangement the spin surfaces of electrons are found to be close to spherical. The spin surfaces of the QW holes are strongly deformed in all cases, mainly due to strong spin–orbit interaction in valence bands of respective bulk semiconductors and their subsequent rearrangement due to spin–splitting. The corresponding graphs of the spin surfaces are presented. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Hole spin surfaces in wurtzite semiconductors

Spin properties of holes in the wurtzite semiconductors, when the hole with a given wave vector ballistically propagates in either heavy-, light-mass or crystal-field split-off band, are considered. Analytical solutions for an averaged hole spin are found for two important cases, when the hole wave vector is parallel and perpendicular to the hexagonal axis. Shapes of the spin surfaces are presented for these cases. It is shown that the surfaces, in general, are spheroids. However, depending on the wave vector magnitude and valence band parameters, the surfaces may also be spheres or line-shaped. The properties of the spin surfaces are illustrated for parameters of the wurtzite GaN, where the crystal field dominates in the splitting of the valence band.