Equilibrium edge spin currents in two-dimensional electron systems with spin-orbit interaction

Abstract

We find a specific mechanism of background spin currents in two-dimensional electron systems with spatially nonuniform spin-orbit interaction (SOI) at thermodynamic equilibrium, in particular, in the systems consisting of regions with and without SOI. The spin density flows tangentially to the boundary in the normal and SOI regions within a layer of the width determined by the SOI strength. The density of these edge currents significantly exceeds the bulk spin current density. The spin current is polarized normally to the boundary. The spatial distribution of equilibrium spin currents is investigated in detail in the case of a step-like variation of the SOI strength and potential at the interface.

4 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B

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• Majorana-like localized spin density without bound states in topologically trivial spin-orbit coupled nanowires
• Magnetic field effects on a nanowire with inhomogeneous Rashba spin-orbit coupling: Spin properties at equilibrium
• Magnetoelectric torque and edge currents caused by spin-orbit coupling
• Spin currents in a normal two-dimensional electron gas in contact with a spin-orbit interaction region
• Maximum intrinsic spin-Hall conductivity in two-dimensional systems with k-linear spin-orbit interaction
• Spin-dependent Scattering by a Potential Barrier on a Nanotube
• Interface states in two-dimensional electron systems with spin-orbital interaction