Due to the spin-orbital coupling in a semiconductor quantum dot, a freely precessing electron spin produces a time-dependent charge density. This creates a sizeable electric field outside the dot, leading to promising applications in spintronics. The spin-electric coupling can be employed for non-invasive single spin detection by electrical methods. We also consider a spin relaxation mechanism due to long-range coupling to electrons in gates and elsewhere in the system, and find a contribution comparable to, and in some cases dominant over previously discussed mechanisms.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0209507,
title = {Dynamical spin-electric coupling in a quantum dot},
author = {L. S. Levitov and E. I. Rashba},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0209507},
year = {2008}
}