Abstract
Spin relaxation times in GaAsxSb1 - x quantum wells are measured at 295 K using time-resolved circular dichroism induced by 1.5 μm, 100 fs pulses. Values of 1.03 and 0.84 ps are obtained for samples with x = 0 and 0.188, respectively. These times are >5 times shorter than those in InGaAs and InGaAsP wells with similar band gaps. The shorter relaxation times are attributed to the larger spin-orbit conduction-band splitting in the Ga(As)Sb system, consistent with the D'yakonov-Perel theory of spin relaxation [M. I. D'yakonov and V. I. Perel, Sov. Phys. JETP 38, 177 (1974)]. Our results indicate the feasibility of engineering an all-optical, polarization switch at 1.5 μm with response time <250 fs.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3665-3667 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
| Volume | 75 |
| Issue number | 23 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 6 1999 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)