Origin of Ultrafast Component of Photoluminescence Decay in Nanostructures Doped with Transition Metal or Rare-Earth Ions

Bulk samples, layers, quantum well, and quantum dot structures of II-Mn-VI samples all show coexistence of slow and fast components of Mn$\text{}^{2+}$ photoluminescence decay. Thus, fast photoluminescence decay cannot be related to low dimensionality of a host material. This also means that the model of the so-called quantum confined atom is incorrect. Based on the results of time-resolved photoluminescence and optically detected magnetic resonance investigations we relate the observed lifetime decrease in Mn$\text{}^{2+}$ intra-shell transition to spin dependent magnetic interactions between localized spins of Mn$\text{}^{2+}$ ions and between Mn$\text{}^{2+}$ ions and spins/magnetic moments of free carriers. The latter mechanism is enhanced in nanostructures.