Spin-degenerate surface and the resonant spin lifetime transistor in wurtzite structures

Spin-splitting energies of wurtzite AlN and InN are calculated using the linear combination of atomic orbital method, and the data are analyzed utilizing the two-band k⋅p model. It is found that in the k⋅p scheme, a spin-degenerate surface exists in the wurtzite Brillouin zone. Consequently, the D’yakonov-Perel’ spin relaxation mechanism can be effectively suppressed for all spin components in the [001]-grown wurtzite quantum wells (QWs) at a resonant condition through application of appropriate strain or a suitable gate bias. Therefore, wurtzite QWs (e.g., InGaN/AlGaN and GaN/AlGaN) are potential structures for spintronic devices such as the resonant spin lifetime transistor.