Spin-flip relaxation due to phonon macroscopic deformation potential in quantum dots

We have calculated the spin-flip relaxation rates of electrons in a single CdTe spherical quantum dot due to the interaction with acoustical phomons via macroscopic deformation potential, also called the ripple mechanism. The relaxation of spin states is possible considering that the applied magnetic field and the coupling between valence and conduction bands produce admixture, both in the electrons as well as in the hole spin states. We have demonstrated that the inclusion of spin states mixture produces an appreciable probability of spin-preserving and spin-flip transitions. The electronic states are calculated within the multiband k(.)p approximation and the phonon modes are described as plane-waves. We have studied the dependence of the transition rates with the magnetic field and with the dot size. Our results show a fair compatibility with available experimental data. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.