Energy-dependent electron-electron scattering and spin dynamics in a two-dimensional electron gas

Leyland, W.J.H., Harley, R.T., Henini, M., Shields, A.J., Farrer, I. and Ritchie, D.A. (2008) Energy-dependent electron-electron scattering and spin dynamics in a two-dimensional electron gas. Physical Review B, 77 (20), 205321-[4pp]. (doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.77.205321).

Abstract

The measurement of spin dynamics of electrons in a degenerate two-dimensional electron gas, wherein the Dyakonov–Perel mechanism is dominant, has been used to investigate the electron scattering time (tp*) as a function of energy near the Fermi energy. Close to the Fermi energy, the spin evolution is oscillatory, which indicates a quasicollision-free regime of spin dynamics. As the energy is increased, a transition to an exponential, collision-dominated spin decay occurs. The oscillation frequency and the value of tp* are extracted by using a Monte Carlo simulation method. At the Fermi energy, tp* is very close to the ensemble momentum relaxation time (tp) obtained from the electron mobility. For higher energies, tp* falls quadratically, which is consistent with the theoretical expectations for the onset of the electron-electron scattering, which is inhibited by the Pauli principle at the Fermi energy.

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