Crystalline Direction Dependence of Spin Precession Angle and Its Application to Complementary Spin Logic Devices

Abstract

In a semiconductor channel, spin-orbit interaction is divided into two terms, Rashba and Dresselhaus effects, which are key phenomena for modulating spin precession angles. The direction of Rashba field is always perpendicular to the wavevector but that of Dresselhaus field depends on the crystal orientation. Based on the individual Rashba and Dresselhaus strengths, we calculate spin precession angles for various crystal orientations in an In As quantum well structure. When the channel length is 1 mu m, the precession angle is 550 degrees for the [110] direction and 460 degrees for the [1-10] direction, respectively. Using the two spin transistors with different crystal directions, which play roles of n- and p-type transistors in conventional charge transistors, we propose a complementary logic device.