  It is shown that absorption of circularly polarized infrared radiation
achieved by inter-subband and intra-subband (Drude-like) transitions results in
a monopolar spin orientation of free carriers. The monopolar spin polarization
in zinc-blende-based quantum wells (QWs) is demonstrated by the observation of
the spin-galvanic and circular photogalvanic effects. It is shown that
monopolar spin orientation in n-type QWs becomes possible if an admixture of
valence band states to the conduction band wave function and the spin-orbit
splitting of the valence band are taken into account.
