Spin polarization control in a 2-dimensional semiconductor

Ian Appelbaum, Pengke Li

Published 2016-01-27Version 1

Long carrier spin lifetimes are a double-edged sword for the prospect of constructing "spintronic" logic devices: Preservation of the logic variable within the transport channel or interconnect is essential to successful completion of the logic operation, but any spins remaining past this event will pollute the environment for subsequent clock cycles. Electric fields can be used to manipulate these spins on a fast timescale by careful interplay of spin-orbit effects, but efficient controlled depolarization can only be completely achieved with amenable materials properties. We use symmetry analysis, perturbation theory, and ensemble calculation to justify our assertion that conduction electrons in III-VI monochalcogenide monolayer 2-dimensional semiconductors are the natural materials choice for this proposed solution to a longstanding problem in spintronics.