Electron spin operation by electric fields: spin dynamics and spin injection

Abstract Spin–orbit interaction couples electron spins to electric fields and allows electrical monitoring of electron spins and electrical detection of spin dynamics. Competing mechanisms of spin–orbit interaction are compared, and optimal conditions for the electric operation of electrons spins in a quantum well by a gate voltage are established. Electric spin injection into semiconductors is discussed with a special emphasis on the injection into ballistic microstructures. Dramatic effect of a long range Coulomb interaction on transport phenomena in space-quantized low-dimensional conductors is discussed in conclusion.