Semiclassical Monte Carlo model for in-plane transport of spin-polarized electrons in III-V heterostructures

We study the in-plane transport of spin-polarized electrons in III-V semiconductor quantum wells. The spin dynamics is controlled by the spin-orbit interaction, which arises due to the bulk crystalline-structure asymmetry and quantum-well inversion asymmetry. This interaction, owing to its momentum dependence, causes rotation of the spin-polarization vector, and also produces effective spin dephasing. The density matrix approach is used to describe the evolution of the electron spin polarization, while the spatial motion of the electrons is treated serniclassically. Monte Carlo simulations have been carried out for temperatures in the range 77-300 K. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.