Real-time modeling of optical orientation in GaAs: Generation and decay of the degree of spin polarization

We present a real-time ab initio description of optical orientation in bulk GaAs due to the coupling with an ultrashort circularly polarized laser source. The injection of spin-polarized electrons in the conduction band is correctly reproduced, and a nonvanishing spin polarization P parallel to the direction of propagation of the laser (z) emerges. A detailed analysis of the generation and the evolution of P(t) is given. The single k-point dynamics is a motion of precession around a fixed axis with constant vertical bar P vertical bar and fixed frequency. Instead, the k-integrated signal shows only a time-dependent P-z(t) and decays a few picoseconds after the end of the laser pump due to decoherence. Decoherence emerges since the individual contributions activated by the pump give rise to destructive interference. We interpret the results in terms of the free induction decay mechanism proposed some years ago [M. W. Wu and C. Z. Ning, Em. Phys. J. B 18, 373 (2000)]. We are able to reproduce such an effect in a full ab initio fashion, giving a quantitative estimate of the associated decay time. Our result also shows a possible explanation for the time decay of spin magnetization observed in many real-time ab initio simulations.