Spin-orbit twisted spin-flip waves in CdMnTe quantum wells*

We present a numerical study of spin-flip wave dispersions in a spin-polarized electron gas in a dilute magnetic semiconductor heterostructure, using time-dependent density-functional response theory. The system under study is an n-doped CdMnTe quantum well with an in-plane magnetic field. Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling induces a wavevector-dependent spin splitting in the conduction bands. The spin waves hence travel through a spin-orbit twisted medium. We calculate the spin-wave dispersion to second order in spin-orbit coupling, including impurity scattering effects. Our results are compared with recent inelastic light scattering experiments.