Korringa relaxation time of magnetic ion system near a two-dimensional electron gas

Spin relaxation of Mn ions in a (Cd,Mn)Te quantum well with quasi-two-dimensional carriers (Q2DEG) is investigated. The mechanism of energy transfer is spin–flip scattering of Mn spin with electrons making transitions between spin subbands accompanied by a change in the Mn spin. A calculation of the spin–flip scattering rate shows that the Mn spin relaxation rate is proportional to the coupling constant squared, the density of states squared, and the electron temperature, the so called Korringa relaxation rate. It was found that for small Mn ion concentration, the relaxation time ≈10−7–10−6 s is in a good agreement with experimental results. Moreover, the relaxation rate scales with L−2, L being the well width, and it can be enhanced over its value in bulk.