Abstract
The magnetoconductivity of quantum wires with widths in the range of was investigated. The finite zero-field spin splitting in our samples gives rise to spin relaxation and weak antilocalization in wide wires. In contrast, for the narrow wires, only weak-localization behavior is seen even though the zero-field spin splitting is independent of wire width. The observed renormalization of the spin-relaxation length due to purely geometrical effects can be described quantitatively using a model where the effect of spin precession is represented by spin-dependent pseudomagnetic fluxes, and by exact numerical transport calculations.
- Received 21 June 2006
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.74.081301
©2006 American Physical Society