Optical Spin Orientation in Ge-Based Heterostructures

The paradigm shift introduced by Si photonics has had a tremendous impact on data transfer and processing speed. Beyond communication, many exciting opportunities for value creation across diverse disciplines, applications, and industries have been rapidly introduced throughout the years. Novel phenomena merging photonics and spin-based electronics are just beginning to emerge. Ge-based heterostructures can tremendously expand our capabilities offering creative and unprecedented solutions to the challenges of integrating spin functionalities onto Si photonics. In this chapter, we will review the latest advancements in this field, paying particular attention to the unique coexistence of notable optical properties and superior spin-dependent characteristics in Ge and novel GeSn alloys.