Spin-orbit coupling in n-type PbTe/PbEuTe quantum wells

Abstract

Magnetoresistance measurements were performed on an n-type PbTe/PbEuTe quantum well and weak antilocalization effects were observed. This indicates the presence of spin-orbit coupling phenomena and we showed that the Rashba effect is the main mechanism responsible for this spin-orbit coupling. Using the model developed by Iordanskii et al., we fitted the experimental curves and obtained the inelastic and spin-orbit scattering times. Thus we could compare the zero field energy spin-splitting predicted by the Rashba theory with the energy spin-splitting obtained from the analysis of the experimental curves. The final result confirms the theoretical prediction of strong Rashba effect on IV-VI based quantum wells.