Photo-and spin current generation and dynamics in semiconductor nanostructures

The band structure and wave functions of GaAs quantum wells are computed via k.p band structure theory including anisotropy and spin splitting. Using these results, the process of generating photocurrents by optical excitation is analyzed. Depending on the symmetry of the material, the direction of the laser beam, and the polarization direction of the light field/s, one can coherently generate charge and/or spin photocurrents on ultrashort time scales. The direction, the strength, and the dynamics of these photocurrents are computed and discussed.