Simultaneous Spin-Charge Relaxation in Double Quantum Dots

Published

May 8, 2013

Author(s)

Vanita Srinivasa, Katja C. Nowack, Mohammad Shafiei, Lieven M. Vandersypen, Jacob M. Taylor

Abstract

We investigate phonon-induced spin and charge relaxation mediated by spin-orbit and hyper- fine interactions for a single electron confined within a double quantum dot. A simple toy model incorporating both direct decay to the ground state of the double dot and indirect decay via an intermediate excited state yields an electron spin relaxation rate that varies non- monotonically with the detuning between the dots. We confirm this model with experiments performed on a GaAs double dot, demonstrating that the relaxation rate exhibits the expected detuning dependence and can be electrically tuned over several orders of magnitude. Our analysis suggests that spin-orbit mediated relaxation via phonons serves as the dominant mechanism through which the double-dot electron spin-flip rate varies with detuning.

Citation

Physical Review Letters

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.196803

Keywords

electron spin relaxation, charge relaxation, phonons, double quantum dots, spin-orbit interaction, hyperfine interaction, GaAs spin hot spots, quantum computing, quantum information

Citation

Srinivasa, V. , Nowack, K. , Shafiei, M. , Vandersypen, L. and Taylor, J. (2013), Simultaneous Spin-Charge Relaxation in Double Quantum Dots, Physical Review Letters, [online], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.196803 (Accessed October 27, 2025)