Abstract
We measured spin-polarized photoluminescence excitation spectra and spin-relaxation times in rectangular GaAs/AlAs quantum wires (QWRs) with small (<20 nm) lateral sizes. We found that the degree of spin polarization had its maximum value near the transition edge, and varied greatly with the excitation photon energy. The results agreed qualitatively with theoretically analyzed spin-polarization spectra, where the heavy-hole–light-hole mixing states in the one-dimensional (1D) valence subbands were taken into account. To clarify the effects of 1D confinement on the spin-relaxation process, we also investigated the temperature dependence of the spin-relaxation time in the QWRs. A comparison of the QWR and quantum-well spin-relaxation times revealed that the spin-relaxation rate is reduced in 1D structures in the low-temperature region of 15–80 K.
- Received 14 May 1998
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.58.15652
©1998 American Physical Society