Quantum states and linear response in dc and electromagnetic fields for the charge current and spin polarization of electrons at the Bi/Si interface with the giant spin-orbit coupling

An expansion of the nearly free-electron model constructed by Frantzeskakis, Pons, and Grioni [1] describing quantum states at the Bi/Si(111) interface with the giant spin-orbit coupling is developed and applied for the band structure and spin polarization calculation, as well as for the linear response analysis of the charge current and induced spin caused by a dc field and by electromagnetic radiation. It is found that the large spin-orbit coupling in this system may allow resolving the spin-dependent properties even at room temperature and at a realistic collision rate. The geometry of the atomic lattice combined with spin-orbit coupling leads to an anisotropic response for both the current and spin components related to the orientation of the external field. The in-plane dc electric field produces only the in-plane components of spin in the sample, while both the in-plane and out-of-plane spin components can be excited by normally propagating electromagnetic wave with different polarizations.     

Effects of geometry and linearly polarized cavity photons on charge and spin currents in a quantum ring with spin-orbit interactions

We calculate the persistent charge and spin polarization current inside a finite-width quantum ring of realistic geometry as a function of the strength of the Rashba or Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction. The time evolution in the transient regime of the two-dimensional (2D) quantum ring connected to electrically biased semi-infinite leads is governed by a time-convolutionless non-Markovian generalized master equation. The electrons are correlated via Coulomb interaction. In addition, the ring is embedded in a photon cavity with a single mode of linearly polarized photon field, which is polarized either perpendicular or parallel to the charge transport direction. To analyze carefully the physical effects, we compare to the analytical results of the toy model of a one-dimensional (1D) ring of non-interacting electrons with spin-orbit coupling. We find a pronounced charge current dip associated with many-electron level crossings at the Aharonov-Casher phase ΔΦ = π, which can be disguised by linearly polarized light. Qualitative agreement is found for the spin polarization currents of the 1D and 2D ring. Quantitatively, however, the spin polarization currents are weaker in the more realistic 2D ring, especially for weak spin-orbit interaction, but can be considerably enhanced with the aid of a linearly polarized electromagnetic field. Specific spin polarization current symmetries relating the Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction case to the Rashba one are found to hold for the 2D ring, which is embedded in the photon cavity.     

Spin-orbit coupling and anisotropy of spin splitting in quantum dots

In lateral quantum dots, the combined effect of both Dresselhaus and Bychkov-Rashba spin-orbit coupling is equivalent to an effective magnetic field +/- B(SO) which has the opposite sign for s(z)= +/- 1/2 spin electrons. When the external magnetic field is perpendicular to the planar structure, the field B(SO) generates an additional splitting for electron states as compared to the spin splitting in the in-plane field orientation. The anisotropy of spin splitting has been measured and then analyzed in terms of spin-orbit coupling in several AlGaAs/GaAs quantum dots by means of resonant tunneling spectroscopy. From the measured values and sign of the anisotropy we are able to determine the dominating spin-orbit coupling mechanism.     

Conductance oscillations of a spin-orbit stripe with polarized contacts

We investigate the linear conductance of a stripe of spin-orbit interaction in a 2D electron gas; that is, a 2D region of length l\ell along the transport direction and infinite in the transverse one in which a spin-orbit interaction of Rashba type is present. Polarization in the contacts is described by means of Zeeman fields. Our model predicts two types of conductance oscillations: Ramsauer oscillations in the minority spin transmission, when both spins can propagate, and Fano oscillations when only one spin propagates. The latter are due to the spin-orbit coupling with quasibound states of the non propagating spin. In the case of polarized contacts in antiparallel configuration Fano-like oscillations of the conductance are still made possible by the spin orbit coupling, even though no spin component is bound by the contacts. To describe these behaviors we propose a simplified model based on an ansatz wave function. In general, we find that the contribution for vanishing transverse momentum dominates and defines the conductance oscillations. Regarding the oscillations with Rashba coupling intensity, our model confirms the spin transistor behavior, but only for high degrees of polarization. Including a position dependent effective mass yields additional oscillations due to the mass jumps at the interfaces.     

Effects of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling on Hofstadter's butterfly

We study the effect of Rashba spin-orbit coupling on the Hofstadter spectrum of a two-dimensional tight-binding electron system in a perpendicular magnetic field. We obtain the generalized coupled Harper spin-dependent equations which include the Rashba spin-orbit interaction and solve for the energy spectrum and spin polarization. We investigate the effect of spin-orbit coupling on the fractal energy spectrum and the spin polarization for some characteristic states as a function of the magnetic flux α and the spin-orbit coupling parameter. We characterize the complexity of the fractal geometry of the spin-dependent Hofstadter butterfly with the correlation dimension and show that it grows quadratically with the amplitude of the spin-orbit coupling. We study some ground state properties and the spin polarization shows a fractal-like behavior as a function of α, which is demonstrated with the exponent close to unity of the decaying power spectrum of the spin polarization. Some degree of spin localization or distribution around +1 or -1, for small spin-orbit coupling, is found with the determination of the entropy function as a function of the spin-orbit coupling. The excited states show a more extended (uniform) distribution of spin states.     

Quantum spin Hall and quantum valley Hall effects in trilayer graphene and their topological structures

The present study pertains to the trilayer graphene in the presence of spin orbit coupling to probe the quantum spin/valley Hall effect. The spin Chern-number C_s for energy-bands of trilayer graphene having the essence of intrinsic spin–orbit coupling is analytically calculated. We find that for each valley and spin, C_s is three times larger in trilayer graphene as compared to single layer graphene. Since the spin Chern-number corresponds to the number of edge states,consequently the trilayer graphene has edge states, three times more in comparison to single layer graphene. We also study the trilayer graphene in the presence of both electric-field and intrinsic spin–orbit coupling and investigate that the trilayer graphene goes through a phase transition from a quantum spin Hall state to a quantum valley Hall state when the strength of the electric field exceeds the intrinsic spin coupling strength. The robustness of the associated topological bulk-state of the trilayer graphene is evaluated by adding various perturbations such as Rashba spin–orbit(RSO) interaction αR, and exchange-magnetization M. In addition, we consider a theoretical model, where only one of the outer layers in trilayer graphene has the essence of intrinsic spin–orbit coupling, while the other two layers have zero intrinsic spin–orbit coupling.Although the first Chern number is non-zero for individual valleys of trilayer graphene in this model, however, we find that the system cannot be regarded as a topological insulator because the system as a whole is not gaped.     

Spin-dependent low-energy 4He+ ion scattering from nonmagnetic surfaces

We investigated electron-spin-polarized (4)He(+) ion scattering on various nonmagnetic surfaces at kinetic energies below 2 keV. It was observed that the scattered He(+) ion yield depends on the He(+) ion spin. We interpret this spin-dependent scattering in terms of the spin-orbit coupling that acts transiently on the He(+)1s electron spin in the He(+)-target binary collision. This interpretation qualitatively explains the relationship between the spin-dependent scattering and the scattering geometry, incident velocity, and magnetic field arrangement. This is the first study to report spin-orbit coupling caused by projectile electron spin in ion scattering.     

二维自旋轨道耦合电子气中持续自旋螺旋态的稳定性的研究

本文利用半经典的自旋密度矩阵方法对二维自旋轨道耦合电子气中持续自旋螺旋态的稳定性进行了一些研究, 重点研究了自旋螺旋态的寿命与其波矢、载流子迁移率、温度、自旋轨道耦合强度、外电场强度等因素之间的关系, 并将部分理论计算结果与最近的一些相关实验结果进行了比较,发现两者之间大致是符合的.     

Gauge theory approach for diffusive and precessional spin dynamics in a two-dimensional electron gas

We develop a gauge theory for diffusive and precessional spin dynamics in a two-dimensional electron gas. Our approach reveals a direct connection between the absence of the equilibrium spin current and a strong anisotropy in the spin relaxation: both effects arise if spin-orbit coupling is reduced to a pure gauge SU(2) field. In this case, the spin-orbit coupling can be removed by a gauge transformation in the form of a local SU(2) spin rotation. The resulting spin dynamics is exactly described in terms of two kinetic coefficients: the spin diffusion and electron mobility. After the inverse transformation, full diffusive and precessional spin density dynamics, including the anisotropic spin relaxation, formation of stable spin structures, and spin precession induced by a macroscopic current are restored. Explicit solutions of the spin evolution equations are found for the initially uniform spin density and for stable, nonuniform structures. Our analysis demonstrates a universal relation between the spin relaxation rate and spin-diffusion coefficient.     

Generation and manipulation of current-induced spin-orbit torques

An emerging field of spintronics, spin-orbitronics, aims to discover novel phenomena and functionalities originating from spin-orbit coupling in solid-state devices. The development of spin-orbitronics promises a fundamental understanding of spin physics in condensed matter, as well as smaller, faster, and far-more energy-efficient spin-based devices. Of particular importance in this field is current-induced spin-orbit torques, which trigger magnetic dynamics by the transfer of angular momentum from an atomic lattice to local magnetization through the spin-orbit coupling. The spin-orbit torque has attracted extensive attention for its fascinating relativistic and quantum mechanical nature, as well as prospective nanoelectronic applications. In this article, we review our studies on the generation and manipulation of current-induced spin-orbit torques.     

Spin hall edge spin polarization in a ballistic 2D electron system

Universal properties of the spin Hall effect in ballistic 2D electron systems are addressed. The net spin polarization across the edge of the conductor is second order, approximately lambda2, in spin-orbit coupling constant independent of the form of the boundary potential, with the contributions of normal and evanescent modes each being approximately radical lambda but of opposite signs. This general result is confirmed by the analytical solution for a hard-wall boundary, which also yields the detailed distribution of the local spin polarization. The latter shows fast (Friedel) oscillations with the spin-orbit coupling entering via the period of slow beatings only. Long-wavelength contributions of evanescent and normal modes exactly cancel each other in the spectral distribution of the local spin density.     

Fe-Ga磁致伸缩合金自旋轨道耦合效应研究

磁致伸缩和磁晶各向异性来源于自旋轨道耦合及晶体场效应,两种效应作用效果将对Fe-Ga大磁致伸缩合金研究方向将起指导作用.通过基于均匀梯度近似的线形缀加平面波法研究了Fe-Ga磁致伸缩合金中D03、B2-like、L12结构在施加自旋轨道耦合效应前后Fe原子3d轨道劈裂情况,轨道电子数及磁晶各向异性.结果表明,自旋轨道耦合效应可以进一步劈裂D03及L12立方结构晶体场,D03和L12结构中Fe原子3d轨道电子数,尤其是dxy和d(x2-y2)轨道下自旋电子数由于自旋轨道耦合作用发生改变;但自旋轨道耦合对B2-like结构作用微弱.Fe-Ga磁致伸缩合金中磁晶各向异性主要由晶体场效应决定.     

The effects of Dresselhaus and Rashba spin-orbit interactions on the electron tunneling in a non-magnetic heterostructure

We theoretically investigate the electron transport properties in a non-magnetic heterostructure with both Dresselhaus and Rashba spin-orbit interactions. The detailed-numerical results show that (1) the large spin polarization can be achieved due to Dresselhaus and Rashba spin-orbit couplings induced splitting of the resonant level, although the magnetic field is zero in such a structure, (2) the Rashba spin-orbit coupling plays a greater role on the spin polarization than the Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction does, and (3) the transmission probability and the spin polarization both periodically change with the increase of the well width.     

Ni^2＋：CsMgCl3的光学吸收谱和EPR的研究

应用三角晶场中d^2(d^8)电子组态包括静电相互作用和自旋－轨道耦合作用的强场能量矩阵,采用完全对角化方法,精确地计算了具有D3d对称的Ni^2 :CsMgCl3的光学吸收谱和EPR谱,理论结果与实验值符合得很好。     

Spin texturing in quantum wires with Rashba and Dresselhaus spin–orbit interactions and in-plane magnetic field

In this work, we investigate the effects of interplay of spin–orbit interaction and in-plane magnetic fields on the electronic structure and spin texturing of parabolically confined quantum wire. Numerical results reveal that the competing effects between Rashba and Dresselhaus spin–orbit interactions and the external magnetic field lead to a complicated energy spectrum. We find that the spin texturing owing to the coupling between subbands can be modified by the strength of spin–orbit couplings as well as the magnitude and the orientation angle of the external magnetic field.     

准一维半导体量子点中电偶极自旋共振的物理机理

半导体量子点中的电子自旋具有较长相干时间以及可扩展性的特点, 在近十几年来引起了人们的广泛兴趣. 人们常常利用电子自旋共振技术来对单个自旋进行操纵. 这样不但需要一个静磁场来使电子产生赛曼劈裂, 同时还需要一个与之垂直的局域振荡磁场. 但是, 在实验上产生足够强且具有固定频率的局域磁场是比较困难的. 后来人们发现, 局域的振荡电场也可以操纵单个电子自旋, 也就是所谓的电偶极自旋共振. 众所周知, 自旋只有自旋磁矩, 不会与电场有任何直接的相互作用. 所以, 电偶极自旋共振的发生必须依赖于某些媒质. 这些媒质包括：量子点材料中的自旋轨道耦合作用, 量子点中的局域磁场梯度, 以及量子点中电子自旋与核自旋的超精细相互作用. 这些媒质能诱导出自旋与电场之间间接的相互作用, 从而外电场操纵单个电子自旋得以实现. 本文总结归纳了目前半导体量子点系统中发生电偶极自旋共振的三种主要物理机理.     

Lateral-surface superlattices in systems with spin-orbit coupling: Quantum states and bloch oscillations in an electric field

The quantum states of a two-dimensional electron gas with spin-orbit coupling located in the periodic potential of a lateral-surface superlattice are studied. The spin-split energy bands and the distribution of spin projections in the Brillouin zone are constructed. Bloch oscillations accompanied by spin precession in superlattices with spin-orbit coupling located in a constant electric field are studied.     

晶体材料中3d2态离子自旋哈密顿参量的微观起源

采用了中间场耦合图像，考虑了以前研究中被忽略的SS (spin-spin)磁相互作用以及SOO (spin-other-orbit)磁相互作用，利用完全对角化方法，研究了3d₂态离子在三角对称 (C_3v, D₃, D_3d)晶体中自旋哈密顿(SH)参量的微观起源.发现自旋哈密顿参量 (包括零场分裂参量D和g因子g∥,g⊥)来自四种耦合机理：（1）SO (spin-orbit)耦合机理; (2) SS耦合机理；（3）SOO 关键词： 自旋哈密顿参量 2态离子')" href="#">3d₂态离子 三角对称晶场 SS与SOO作用 SO-SS-SOO联合作用机理     

The effect of spin-orbit coupling on magnetoresistance in nonmagnetic organic semiconductors

We investigated the effect of spin-orbit coupling on magnetoresistance in nonmagnetic organic semiconductors.A Lorentz-type magnetoresistance is obtained from spin-orbit coupling-dependent spin precession under the condition of a space-charge-limited current.The magnetoresistance depends on the initial spin orientation of the electron with respect to the hole in electron-hole pairs,and the increasing spin-orbit coupling slows down the change in magnetoresistance with magnetic field.The field dependence,the sign and the saturation value of the magnetoresistance are composite effects of recombination and dissociation rate constants of singlet and triplet electron-hole pairs.The simulated magnetoresistance shows good consistency with the experimental results.