Non-Abelian gauge field theory of the spin-orbit interaction and a perfect spin filter

2007/01/12 by Naomichi Hatano, Ryoen Shirasaki, Ryōen Shirasaki +1 · 11 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Topological Materials and Phenomena #cond-mat.mes-hall #quant-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physreva.75.032107

published as Phys.Rev.A75:032107,2007 · 8 pages, 9 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. A

arxiv created 2007/01/12 · openalex publication_date 2007/03/12 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

We point out that the Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions in two dimensions can be regarded as a Yang-Mills non-Abelian gauge field. The physical field generated by the gauge field gives the electron wave function a spin-dependent phase which is frequently called the Aharonov-Casher phase. Applying on an AB ring this non-Abelian field together with the usual vector potential, we can make the interference condition completely destructive for one component of the spin while completely constructive for the other component of the spin over the entire energy range. This enables us to construct a perfect spin filter.

Citations

• Modulating unpolarized current in quantum spintronics: Visibility of spin-interference effects in multichannel Aharonov-Casher mesoscopic rings
• Spin-Orbit Coupling Effects in Zinc Blende Structures
• Quantal phase factors accompanying adiabatic changes

Cited by

• Gauging away the Stoner model: Engineering unconventional metallic ferromagnetism with artificial gauge fields
• Charge dynamics and "in plane" magnetic field I: Rashba-Dresselhauss interaction, Majorana fermions and Aharonov-Casher theorems
• Non-Abelian gauge fields in the gradient expansion: Generalized Boltzmann and Eilenberger equations
• Filtering and analyzing mobile qubit information via Rashba–Dresselhaus–Aharonov–Bohm interferometers
• Exponentially growing bulk Green functions as signature of nontrivial non-Hermitian winding number in one dimension
• Edge states and topological phases in non-Hermitian systems
• Characteristics of persistent spin current components in a quasi-periodic Fibonacci ring with spin–orbit interactions: Prediction of spin–orbit coupling and on-site energy
• Spin–orbit gauge and quantum spin Hall effect
• Perfect flat band with chirality and charge ordering out of strong spin-orbit interaction
• Spin filtering by a periodic spintronic device
• SU(2) symmetry in a Hubbard model with spin-orbit coupling