Energy levels of a parabolically confined quantum dot in the presence of spin-orbit interaction

We present a theoretical study of the energy levels in a parabolically confined quantum dot in the presence of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction (SOI). The features of some low-lying states in various strengths of the SOI are examined at zero and nonzero magnetic fields. It is shown that the spin-polarized electronic states can be more easily achieved in a weakly confined dot when SOI is greater than a critical value of the confinement strength. The presence of a magnetic field enhances the possibility of the spin polarization and the SOI leads to different energy dependence on magnetic fields applied. Furthermore, in high magnetic fields, the spectra of low-lying states show basic features of Fock-Darwin levels as well as Landau levels. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.