Optical Manipulation of the Rashba Effect in Germanium Quantum Wells (Advanced Optical Materials 18/2022)

In article number 2201082, Simone Rossi, Fabio Pezzoli and co-workers present an all-optical approach to engineer the strength of the so-called Rashba effect emerging in biased germanium quantum wells. Their results demonstrate that the spin–orbit interaction can be modified through optical pumping, eventually changing the spin polarization. These rich and intriguing light–matter phenomena can advance the burgeoning field of spin-optronics and our understanding of optical spin orientation in technologically relevant materials.