Spin/Valley Dynamics in Transition Metal Dichalcogenides


WS2TRKR

Recently, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have become a major research focus for the two dimensional (2D) materials community due to the properties they provide beyond those of graphene.  Unlike graphene, TMDs are semiconductors and have strong spin-orbit coupling.  These properties combine to form a unique band structure in which one can selectively excite individual spins/valleys using circularly polarized light.  Spins/valleys in these materials are predicted to have long lifetimes due to the relatively large spin splitting in both the valence and conduction bands, making them extremely promising for spintronic applications.  We take advantage of the ability to optically manipulate spins/valleys in order to study the spin/valley dynamics in these materials using Time Resolved Kerr Rotation (TRKR) microscopy.  Using a combination of TRKR, photoluminescence, differential reflectance, and reflectivity, we are exploring the microscopic mechanisms which lead to spin/valley relaxation.


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