High Temperature Electron Spin Dynamics In Bulk Cubic Gan: Nanosecond Spin Lifetimes Far Above Room-Temperature

The electron spin dynamics in n-doped bulk cubic GaN is investigated for very high temperatures from 293K up to 500K by time-resolved Kerr-rotation spectroscopy. We find extraordinarily long spin lifetimes exceeding 1 ns at 500 K. The temperature dependence of the spin relaxation time is in qualitative agreement with predictions of Dyakonov-Perel theory, while the absolute experimental times are an order of magnitude shorter than predicted. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed, including the role of phase mixtures of hexagonal and cubic GaN as well as the impact of localized carriers. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.