DEPARTMENT COLLOQUIUM | Measuring Spins and Spin-Orbit Effects in Semiconductors

Spin-orbit coupling is a consequence of relativity, but its effects can be relevant at the device scale in semiconductors. One effect is a phenomenon by which electron spins become oriented when subject to a current. However, the mechanism and how the magnitude of this electrically-generated spin polarization relates to sample parameters are not yet understood. In this talk, I will give an overview of applications based on spin-polarized carriers and describe optical measurements of non-equilibrium spin polarization in semiconductors that are used to probe spin dynamics and spin-orbit effects.