Anisotropic spin dynamics of confined electrons in CdTe/ZnTe quantum structures

Abstract

We have studied the spin dynamics of confined electrons in an ultrathin CdTe/ZnTe quantum well and self-assembled quantum dots by time-resolved Kerr-rotation technique. The dependence of the spin-precession frequency on the magnetic field direction shows the anisotropy of the g -factor tensor, which is the opposite of the usual quantum wells with moderate widths. The geometrical anisotropy of the confinement also affects the initial orientation of the electron spins created optically, as revealed clearly with the use of oblique-incidence pump pulses. © 2010 The American Physical Society.