2011/10/24 by R. Raimondi, Roberto Raimondi, P. Schwab +4 · 1 citation
Chemistry · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Chemistry #Condensed matter physics #Electron #Fermi gas #Molecular Junctions and Nanostructures #Orbit (dynamics) #Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Polarization (electrochemistry) #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Quantum mechanics #Relaxation (psychology) #Spin (aerodynamics) #Spin Hall effect #Spin polarization #Spin–orbit interaction #Transverse plane #cond-mat.mes-hall
paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/andp.201100253
9 pages
arxiv created 2011/10/24 · openalex publication_date 2011/12/23 · arxiv updated 2012/01/19 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract Spin‐orbit interaction is usefully classified as extrinsic or intrinsic, depending on its origin: the potential due to random impurities (extrinsic), or the crystalline potential associated with the band or device structure (intrinsic). In this paper we will show how, by using a SU(2) formulation, the two sources may be described in an elegant and unified way. As a result we obtain a simple description of the interplay of the two types of spin‐orbit interaction, and a physically transparent explanation of the vanishing of the d.c. spin Hall conductivity in a Rashba two‐dimensional electron gas when spin relaxation is neglected, as well as its reinstatement when spin relaxation is allowed. Furthermore, we obtain an explicit formula for the transverse spin polarization created by an electric current, which generalizes the standard formula obtained by Edelstein, and Aronov and Lyanda‐Geller by including extrinsic spin‐orbit interaction and spin relaxation.