Kinetic theory of spin dependent transport with strong spin-orbit scattering

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Peter Schwab
• Subject Area: Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2007 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 41017397

• Final Report Year: 2012

Final Report Abstract

Controlling the spin degree of freedom is crucial for spintronics. A guiding idea of our studies was to exploit spin-orbit coupling in order to achieve control over the spin. We developed a semiclassical theory to describe the spin-dynamics in finite systems with spin-orbit coupling. By exploiting a formal analogy of spin-orbit coupling with a spin-dependent vector potential we achieved a considerable simplification of the transport equations. Another important aspect was to consider simultaneously different sources of spin-orbit coupling, namely the spin-orbit coupling due to broken bulk inversion asymmetry, due to broken structural inversion symmetry, and due to scattering from defects. We applied the theory to a number of experimentally relevant situations, including the spin Hall effect, the inverse spin Hall effect, and current induced spin polarization.

Publications

• Magneto spin Hall conductivity of a twodimensional electron gas, EPL 82, 67005 (2008)
  M. Milletari, R. Raimondi, and P. Schwab
  
• Spin polarizations and spin Hall currents in a two-dimensional electron gas with magnetic impurities, Phys. Rev. B 78, 125327 (2008)
  C. Gorini, P. Schwab, M. Dzierzawa, and R. Raimondi
  
• Tuning the spin Hall effect in a two-dimensional electron gas, EPL 87, 37008 (2009)
  R. Raimondi and P. Schwab
  
• Inverse spin Hall effect and anomalous Hall effect in a two-dimensional electron gas, EPL 90, 67004 (2010)
  P. Schwab, R. Raimondi, and C. Gorini
  
• Non-Abelian gauge fields in the gradient expansion: Generalized Boltzmann and Eilenberger equations, Phys. Rev. B 82, 195316 (2010)
  C. Gorini, P. Schwab, R. Raimondi, and A. L. Shelankov
  
• Spin-charge locking and tunneling into a helical metal, EPL 93, 67004 (2011)
  P. Schwab, R. Raimondi, and C. Gorini
  
• Landau levels in a topological insulator, Phys. Rev. B 85, 155403 (2012)
  P. Schwab and M. Dzierzawa
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.85.155403)
• Spin-orbit interaction in a twodimensional electron gas: SU(2) formulation, Ann. Phys. (Berlin) 524, 153 (2012)
  R. Raimondi, P. Schwab, C. Gorini, and G. Vignale
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1002/andp.201100253)