Kramers' revenge

Abstract

The combination of space inversion and time reversal symmetries result in doubly-degenerate Bloch states with opposite spin. Many lattices with these symmetries can be constructed by combining a noncentrosymmetric potential (lacking this degeneracy) with its inverted copy. Using simple models, we unravel the evolution of local spin-splitting during this process of inversion symmetry restoration, in the presence of spin-orbit interaction and sublattice coupling. Importantly, through an analysis of quantum mechanical commutativity, we examine the difficulty of identifying states that are simultaneously spatially segregated and spin polarized. We also explain how experimental probes (such as angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, or ARPES) of `hidden spin polarization' in layered materials are susceptible to unrelated spin splitting intrinsically induced by broken inversion symmetry at the surface.

References in corpus (5)

• Weyl and Dirac Semimetals in Three Dimensional Solids
• Coherent spin transport through a 350-micron-thick Silicon wafer
• Selective probing of hidden spin-polarized states in inversion-symmetric bulk MoS2
• Search and design of nonmagnetic centrosymmetric layered crystals with large local spin polarization
• Electrons, holes, and spin in the IV-VI monolayer 'four-six-enes'

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Uncovering and tailoring hidden Rashba spin-orbit splitting in centrosymmetric crystals
• Unveiling Giant Hidden Rashba Effects in Two-Dimensional Si${}_2$Bi${}_2$
• Symmetry-assisted protection and compensation of hidden spin polarization in centrosymmetric systems
• Superconductivity of anomalous pseudospin
• Electrically switchable hidden spin polarization in antiferroelectric crystals
• Hidden Zeeman-type spin polarization in bulk crystals