title: Current-induced spin polarization in strained semiconductors.
abstract: The polarization of conduction electron spins due to an electrical current is observed in strained nonmagnetic semiconductors using static and time-resolved Faraday rotation. The density, lifetime, and orientation rate of the electrically polarized spins are characterized by a combination of optical and electrical methods. In addition, the dynamics of the current-induced spins are investigated by utilizing electrical pulses generated from a photoconductive switch. These results demonstrate the possibility of a spin source for semiconductor spintronic devices without the use of magnetic materials.
authors.affiliation: Center for Spintronics and Quantum Computation, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gossard
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Awschalom