Proper Definition of Spin Current in Spin-Orbit Coupled Systems
Abstract
The conventional definition of spin current is incomplete and unphysical in describing spin transport in systems with spin-orbit coupling. A proper and measurable spin current is established in this study, which fits well into the standard framework of near-equilibrium transport theory and has the desirable property to vanish in insulators with localized orbitals. Experimental implications of our theory are discussed.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- February 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.076604
- arXiv:
- arXiv:cond-mat/0503505
- Bibcode:
- 2006PhRvL..96g6604S
- Keywords:
-
- 72.10.Bg;
- 72.20.Dp;
- 73.63.Hs;
- General formulation of transport theory;
- General theory scattering mechanisms;
- Quantum wells;
- Condensed Matter - Mesoscopic Systems and Quantum Hall Effect
- E-Print:
- Final version with updated journal-ref