Observation of linear and quadratic magnetic field-dependence of magneto-photocurrents in InAs/GaSb superlattice

Nanoscale Res Lett. 2014 May 31;9(1):279. doi: 10.1186/1556-276X-9-279. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

We experimentally studied the magneto-photocurrents generated by direct interband transition in InAs/GaSb type II superlattice. By varying the magnetic field direction, we observed that an in-plane magnetic field induces a photocurrent linearly proportional to the magnetic field; however, a magnetic field tilted to the sample plane induces a photocurrent presenting quadratic magnetic field dependence. The magneto-photocurrents in both conditions are insensitive to the polarization state of the incident light. Theoretical models involving excitation, relaxation and Hall effect are utilized to explain the experimental results.

Keywords: Asymmetric excitation and relaxation; Magneto-photocurrents; Spin-orbit interaction.