Electronic-spin generation in multi-photon processes: Cubic anisotropy of pumping

Abstract

We study the spin generation in multi-photon absorption processes in a bulk semiconductor, pumped it by a circularly polarized intense light by varying the angle of incidence. The generated spin polarization is calculated using the eight-band Kane model in the limit of large spin-orbit splitting and on the basis of the multi-photon photo-generation rate of the conduction electron spin density. It is found that the spin polarization strongly depends on the pumping photon energy outside the band edge. Cubic anisotropy in crystal pumping is also calculated. The results show that due to this anisotropy the spin generation differs by ~8%, in consistence with earlier results obtained by others.