Theory of current-induced spin polarizations in an electron gas

Abstract

We derive the Bloch equations for the spin dynamics of a two-dimensional electron gas in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. For the latter we consider both the intrinsic mechanisms of structure inversion asymmetry (Rashba) and bulk inversion asymmetry (Dresselhaus), and the extrinsic ones arising from the scattering from impurities. The derivation is based on the SU(2) gauge-field formulation of the Rashba-Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling. Our main result is the identification of a new spin-generation torque arising from the Elliot-Yafet process, which opposes a similar term arising from the Dyakonov-Perel process. The new spin-generation torque contributes to the current-induced spin polarization (CISP) -- also known as the Edelstein or inverse spin-galvanic effect. As a result, the behavior of the CISP turns out to be more complex than one would surmise from consideration of the internal Rashba-Dresselhaus fields alone. In particular, the symmetry of the current-induced spin polarization does not necessarily coincide with that of the internal Rashba-Dresselhaus field, and an out-of-plane component of the CISP is generally predicted, as observed in recent experiments. We also discuss the extension to the three-dimensional electron gas, which may be relevant for the interpretation of experiments in thin films.

11 pages, 2 figures

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Cited by in corpus (23)

• Usadel equation in the presence of intrinsic spin-orbit coupling: A unified theory of magneto-electric effects in normal and superconducting systems
• Semiclassical theory of spin-orbit torques in disordered multiband electron systems
• Magnonic Analogue of Edelstein Effect in Antiferromagnetic Insulators
• Theory of the inverse spin galvanic effect in quantum wells
• Microscopic linear response theory of spin relaxation and relativistic transport phenomena in graphene
• Spin to charge conversion at Rashba-split SrTiO${}_3$ interfaces from resonant tunneling
• Rashba-metal to Mott-insulator transition
• Theory of inverse Rashba-Edelstein effect induced by spin pumping into a two-dimensional electron gas
• Current-induced spin polarization in isotropic k-cubed Rashba model: Theoretical study for p-doped semiconductor heterostructures and perovskite oxides interfaces
• Spin-charge conversion in disordered two-dimensional electron gases lacking inversion symmetry
• Nonlocal magnetolectric effects in diffusive conductors with spatially inhomogeneous spin-orbit coupling
• Current-induced spin polarization in InGaAs and GaAs epilayers with varying doping densities
• Quasiclassical theory of the spin-orbit magnetoresistance of three-dimensional Rashba metals
• Theory of the inverse Rashba-Edelstein effect induced by thermal spin injection
• Theory of charge-to-spin conversion under quantum confinement
• Tunneling anisotropic spin galvanic effect
• Spin Hall magnetoresistance and spin Nernst magnetothermopower: role of the inverse spin galvanic effect
• Gate-controlled Spin Extraction from Topological Insulator Surfaces
• Hanle effect in current induced spin orientation
• Resonant Edelstein and inverse-Edelstein effects, charge-to-spin conversion, and spin pumping from chiral-spin modes
• Promoted current-induced spin polarization in inversion symmetry broken topological insulator thin films
• The spin Hall effect
• Inverse spin galvanic effect in the presence of impurity spin-orbit scattering: a diagrammatic approach