Ultrafast spin dynamics in II-VI diluted magnetic semiconductors with spin-orbit interaction

Abstract

We study theoretically the ultrafast spin dynamics of II-VI diluted magnetic semiconductors in the presence of spin-orbit interaction. Our goal is to explore the interplay or competition between the exchange sd coupling and the spin-orbit interaction in both bulk and quantum-well systems. For bulk materials we concentrate on Zn 1 − x Mn x Se and take into account the Dresselhaus interaction, while for quantum wells we examine Hg 1 − x − y Mn x Cd y Te systems with a strong Rashba coupling. Our calculations were performed with a recently developed formalism which incorporates electronic correlations beyond mean-field theory originating from the exchange sd coupling. For both bulk and quasi-two-dimensional systems we find that, by varying the system parameters within realistic ranges, either of the two interactions can be chosen to play a dominant role or they can compete on an equal footing with each other. The most notable effect of the spin-orbit interaction in both types of system is the appearance of strong oscillations where the exchange sd coupling by itself causes only an exponential decay of the mean electronic spin components. The mean-field approximation is also studied and an analytical interpretation is given as to why it shows a strong suppression of the spin-orbit-induced dephasing of the spin component parallel to the Mn magnetic field.