Suppression of spin dephasing in a two-dimensional electron gas with a quantum point contact

Abstract

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is a source of strong spin dephasing in two- and three-dimensional semiconducting systems. We report that spin dephasing in a two-dimensional electron gas can be suppressed by introducing a quantum point contact. Surprisingly, this suppression was not limited to the vicinity of the contact but extended to the entire two-dimensional electron gas. This facilitates the electrical control of the spin degree of freedom in a two-dimensional electron gas through spin-orbit coupling. © 2010 Journal of Magnetics.