Derivation of Electron Spin Relaxation Rate by Electron-Phonon Interaction Using a New Diagram Method

Abstract

A formula for the electron spin relaxation rate of an electron-phonon system is derived using a new spring-loop diagram method. The result contains the distribution functions for the electrons and phonons properly. Therefore, all the spin flip and conserving processes are explained from a microscopic point of view, and a physical insight of the quantum dynamics of electron spin in a solid is obtained from the diagram. Photons and phonons are classified according to the spin flip and conserving processes. The formula is used to calculate the electron spin relaxation rate in GaAs. The temperature dependence of the relaxation rate is obtained by a comparison with the experimental result.