Spin–orbit splitting in diamond: excitons and acceptor related states

Abstract

The spin–orbit splitting Delta_0 approx. 13 meV calculated ab initio for the Gamma 1_8 valence band state of diamond differs from that observed for acceptors (approx. 2 meV) and exciton states (approx. 7 meV). A full-zone k·p band structure, together with a Slater–Koster attractive potential, is used to explain these differences and thus clarify the contradictory assignments of spin–orbit splittings found in the literature for diamond.