Transport and lifetime enhancement of photoexcited spins in GaAs by surface acoustic waves

We demonstrate spin transport and spin lifetime enhancement in GaAs quantum wells induced by the traveling piezoelectric field of a surface acoustic wave (SAW). Spin transport lengths of about 3 microm corresponding to spin relaxation times during transport over 1 ns are observed, which are consider...

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Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 87; no. 27 Pt 1; p. 276601
Main Authors Sogawa, T, Santos, P V, Zhang, S K, Eshlaghi, S, Wieck, A D, Ploog, K H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 31.12.2001
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Summary:We demonstrate spin transport and spin lifetime enhancement in GaAs quantum wells induced by the traveling piezoelectric field of a surface acoustic wave (SAW). Spin transport lengths of about 3 microm corresponding to spin relaxation times during transport over 1 ns are observed, which are considerably longer than the exciton spin diffusion lengths in the absence of a SAW. The slow spin relaxation is attributed to a reduced electron-hole exchange interaction, when the carriers are spatially separated by the lateral potential modulation induced by the SAW.
ISSN:0031-9007
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.87.276601