Fig. 1. Relaxation time predictions for two systems with inversion symmetry.
Spin (τs) and momentum (τm) relaxation times are shown for: a electrons in n-Si with carrier concentration 7.8 × 1015 cm−3 (compared to experiment26,27), b holes in p-Si with carrier concentration 1.3 × 1015 cm−3, and c iron (compared to experiment29–31). d Cumulative contributions to spin relaxation by change in spin, Δs, per scattering event defined based on Eq. (5): electrons in Si exhibit spin flips with all contributions at Δs = 1, whereas holes in Si and electrons in iron exhibit a broad distribution in Δs.