Mesoscopic scattering dynamics under generic uniform SU(2) gauge fields: Spin-momentum relaxation and coherent backscattering

Abstract

We investigate the time- and momentum-resolved dynamics of matter waves undergoing elastic scattering from a disordered potential in the presence of spatially uniform SU(2) gauge fields. We derive the disorder-averaged density matrix as a function of time and momentum within the weak-localization regime. By accurately approximating the frequency dependence of the ladder and maximally crossed diagram series beyond the diffusion approximation, we describe short-time spin-momentum dynamics on timescales comparable to the scattering mean free time, for arbitrary strengths of the SU(2) gauge fields and disorder. We also present a cubic equation that determines the spin isotropization time, which gives accurate asymptotic forms in the limits where the spin-orbit length is much longer (Dyakonov-Perel spin relaxation regime) or much shorter than the scattering mean free path, as well as in the SU(2)-symmetric (persistent spin helix) limit. Comparison with numerical simulations over a broad range of spin-orbit coupling strengths shows quantitative agreement for the predicted spin isotropization time. The same framework also reproduces both the relaxation of the momentum distribution and the transient backscattering peak with a momentum offset coexisting with the robust coherent backscattering dip.

20 pages, 5 figures