  The D'yakonov-Perel' mechanism, intimately related to the spin splitting of
the electronic states, usually dominates the spin relaxation in zinc blende
semiconductor quantum structures. Previously it has been formulated for the two
limiting cases of low and high temperatures. Here we extend the theory to give
an accurate description of the intermediate regime which is often relevant for
room temperature experiments. Employing the self-consistent multiband envelope
function approach, we determine the spin splitting of electron subbands in
n-(001) zinc blende semiconductor quantum structures. Using these results we
calculate spin relaxation rates as a function of temperature and obtain
excellent agreement with experimental data.
