Influence of the illumination on the spin splitting of the two-dimensional electron gas in Al_xGa_(1-x)N/GaN heterostructures

摘要

Spin splitting of the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in Al_xGa_(1-x)N/GaN heterostmctures has been investigated by means of magnetotransport measurements under the illumination at low temperatures. The beating patterns in the oscillatory magnetoresistance originating from zero-field spin splitting of the 2DEG are observed in this study. It is found thatrnthe spin splitting energy decreases after the illumination. It is also found that the illumination decreases the electric field at Al_xGa_(1-x)N/GaN heterointerfaces. Based on the experiments, it is suggested that the zero-field spin splitting of the 2DEG in Al_xGa_(1-x)N/GaN heterostructures mainly arises from the Rashba effect.