Ultrafast spin injection from Cd1−xMnxTe magnetic barriers into a CdTe quantum well studied by pump–probe spectroscopy

Spin injection from diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) barriers of Cd1−xMnxTe into a quantum well (QW) of CdTe is studied, by means of pump–probe absorption spectroscopy in magnetic fields. Fast decay characteristics of circularly polarized differential absorbances of spin-polarized excitons in the DMS barrier show the exciton injection time of 6 ps from the barriers into the QW. In accordance with the fast relaxation of the spin-polarized excitons from the barrier, we observe the rise of circular polarization degree for the differential absorption of the CdTe QW in magnetic fields, evidently indicating the spin injection. In addition, the circular polarization degree up to 0.3 is developed in the well immediately after pumping, originating from the fast relaxation of a heavy hole (hh) spin less than 0.2 ps, due to the giant Zeeman effect caused by the penetration of the hh wave function into the DMS barriers.