The limit spin current in a time-dependent Rashba spin-orbit coupling system

J Phys Condens Matter. 2013 Feb 20;25(7):075302. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/25/7/075302. Epub 2013 Jan 17.

Abstract

The generation of spin current in a one dimensional electron gas (1DEG) system is studied, where the Rashba spin-orbit coupling (RSOC) is modulated by a time-varying gate voltage. With a simple unitary transformation, we show the appearance of an additional spin-dependent potential which results in a spin-dependent effective electric field. We include the scattering interaction by taking a relaxation approximation. The formula for the induced spin current is derived, the limit value accessible by time-varying RSOC is obtained and the order of magnitude is estimated. We find that the maximum of a pulsed spin current can reach that limit value. The results in 1DEG are extended to 2DEG. In addition, we study the spin current in a metal-quantum dot-metal system.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Electromagnetic Fields*
  • Metals / chemistry*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Models, Molecular*

Substances

  • Metals