Exchange-stabilization of Spin accumulation in the two-dimensional electron gas with Rashba-type of spin-orbit interaction

Henri M. Saarikoski, Gerrit E.W. Bauer

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Spin accumulation is a crucial but imprecise concept in spintronics., the science that strives to harness the electron spin for the benefit of information and communication technology. In metal-based spintronics it is characterized in terms of semiclassical distribution functions. In semiconductors with a strong spin-orbit coupling the spin accumulation is instead described as superpositions of coherent eigenstates. Here we present theoretical arguments that both views of the spin accumulation can be reconciled by taking into account the electron-electron interaction: a sufficiently strong self-consistent exchange field reduces a spin accumulation to a chemical potential difference between the two spin bands even in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. We demonstrate the idea on a clean two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) by showing how the exchange field protects a spin accumulation from dephasing.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Foundations of Quantum Mechanics in the Light of New Technology, ISQM-Tokyo 2008
PublisherWorld Scientific Publishing Co. Pte Ltd
Pages99-104
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)981428212X, 9789814282123
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Event9th International Symposium on Foundations of Quantum Mechanics in the Light of New Technology, ISQM-Tokyo 2008 - Hatoyama, Saitama, Japan
Duration: 2008 Aug 252008 Aug 28

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Foundations of Quantum Mechanics in the Light of New Technology, ISQM-Tokyo 2008

Conference

Conference9th International Symposium on Foundations of Quantum Mechanics in the Light of New Technology, ISQM-Tokyo 2008
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityHatoyama, Saitama
Period08/8/2508/8/28

Keywords

  • Rashba
  • Spin accumulation
  • Spin-orbit interaction

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