Spin-Orbit Interaction in Ga N / Alx Ga1-x N Heterojunctions Probed by Electron Spin Resonance

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • A. V. Shchepetilnikov - , RAS - Institute of Solid State Physics, Higher School of Economics (Author)
  • A. R. Khisameeva - , RAS - Institute of Solid State Physics (Author)
  • V. V. Solovyev - , RAS - Institute of Solid State Physics (Author)
  • A. Großer - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • T. Mikolajick - , Chair of Nanoelectronics, NaMLab - Nanoelectronic materials laboratory gGmbH (Author)
  • S. Schmult - , Chair of Nanoelectronics (Author)
  • I. V. Kukushkin - , RAS - Institute of Solid State Physics (Author)

Abstract

Fundamental aspects of spin-orbit interaction in commercially relevant GaN/AlxGa1-xN heterostructures hosting two-dimensional electron systems are extensively studied by electron spin resonance (ESR). This unprecedentedly accurate experimental technique allows access to the fine details of coupling between the spin degree of freedom and the quantized orbital motion of an electron in the quantum Hall regime through the precise measurement of the electron g-factor. Filling-factor-dependent changes of the g-factor value in strong magnetic fields allow extraction of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction constant α in various GaN/AlxGa1-xN heterojunctions with electron sheet densities in the range 0.8-5.2×1012cm-2. Despite three significantly different approaches used to tune the electron density, the extracted value of α is on the order of 5.3±0.4 meV Å for all experimental realizations. This striking finding can be explained by assuming that the spin-orbit interaction is of bulk origin. Theoretical calculations confirm this observation, as the bulk cubic in-plane wave-vector term of the spin-orbit interaction compensates the rising contribution due to the change in the quantum well shape. Finally, the value of α is cross-checked and confirmed by weak antilocalization measurements in the longitudinal magnetoresistance at substantially lower magnetic field values compared to the ESR approach. The presented experimental findings provide knowledge for estimating the true scales of spin-orbit interaction in GaN-based spintronic devices.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number024037
JournalPhysical review applied
Volume18
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

unpaywall 10.1103/physrevapplied.18.024037
ORCID /0000-0003-3814-0378/work/142256155

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Library keywords