Spin-dependent inter- and intra-valley electron-phonon scattering in germanium

Abstract

We investigate the spin-dependent electron-phonon scatterings of the $L$ and $Γ$ valleys and the band structure near the conduction band minima in germanium. We first construct a $16\times16$ ${\bm k}\cdot{\bm p}$ Hamiltonian in the vicinity of the $L$ point in germanium, which ensures the correctness of the band structure of the lowest three conduction bands and highest two valence bands. This Hamiltonian facilitates the analysis of the spin-related properties of the conduction electrons. We then demonstrate the phonon-induced electron scatterings of the $L$ and $Γ$ valleys, i.e., the intra-$Γ$/ $L$ valley, inter--$Γ$-$L$ valley and inter--$L$-$L$ valley scatterings in germanium. The selection rules and complete scattering matrices for these scatterings are calculated, where the scattering matrices for the intra-$Γ$ valley scattering, inter--$Γ$-$L$ valley scattering and the optical-phonon and the separated transverse-acoustic- and longitudinal-acoustic-phonon contributions to the intra-$Γ$ valley scattering have not been reported in the literature. The coefficients in these scattering matrices are obtained via the pseudo-potential calculation, which also verifies our selection rules and wave-vector dependence. We further discuss the Elliott-Yafet mechanisms in these electron-phonon scatterings with the ${\bm k}$$\cdot$${\bm p}$ eigenstates at the $L$ and $Γ$ valleys. Our investigation of these electron-phonon scatterings are essential for the study of the optical orientation of spin and hot-electron relaxation in germanium.