Spin Injection in Quantum Well Spin-Light Emitting Diodes

A requirement for the realization of semiconductor spintronics is the efficient injection, transport, control and detection of spin-polarized carriers in a semiconductor. Modified light emitting diodes known as spin-LEDs employ a magnetic contact to electrically inject spin-polarized carriers into a semiconductor diode structure. Spin-LEDs are the only spin-based structures where the combined efficiency of spin injection/transport/detection can be investigated reliably and in a model-independent way. The book reviews early studies of spin injection in spin-LED structures based on GaAs quantum wells. Spin injection from both a paramagnetic diluted magnetic semiconductor (ZnMnSe) as well as a ferromagnetic metal (Fe) are discussed. The discussion also contains an introduction on the physics of spin orientation in semiconductors along with a review of optical and magneto-optical techniques used for the investigation of spin-LEDs. The book is of interest to scientists in the field of spin injection but it may also be useful as part of an introductory course on semiconductor spintronics.

Autorentext

Grigorios Itskos: PhD SUNY at Buffalo (2003), Lecturer, Physics Department, University of Cyprus, Nicosia. Optical spectroscopy of semiconductors, spintronics. Athos Petrou: PhD Purdue University (1983), Rustgi Professor, Physics Department, SUNY at Buffalo, New York. Optical spectroscopy of semiconductors, spintronics.