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Updated: May 3, 2026

Experimental Methods for Spin- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy Combined with Polarization-Variable Laser
Published on: June 28, 2018
Effect of Pauli blockade on spin-dependent diffusion in a degenerate electron gas
F Cadiz1, D Paget1, A C H Rowe1
1Physique de la matière condensée, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, 91128 Palaiseau, France.
Abstract:
Spin-polarized transport of photoelectrons in bulk, p-type GaAs is investigated in the Pauli blockade regime. In contrast to usual spin diffusion processes in which the spin polarization decreases with distance traveled due to spin relaxation, images of the polarized photoluminescence reveal a spin-filter effect in which the spin polarization increases during transport over the first 2 μm from 26% to 38%. This is shown to be a direct consequence of the Pauli principle and the associated quantum degeneracy pressure which results in a spin-dependent increase in the minority carrier diffusion constants and mobilities. The central role played by the quantum degeneracy pressure is confirmed via the observation of a spin-dependent increase in the photoelectron volume and a spin-charge coupling description of this is presented.
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