Polarized electric current in semiclassical transport with spin-orbit interaction
Abstract
Semiclassical solutions of two-dimensional Schrödinger equation with spin-orbit interaction and smooth potential are considered. In the leading order, spin polarization is in-plane and follows the evolution of the electron momentum for a given subband. Out-of-plane spin polarization appears as a quantum correction, for which an explicit expression is obtained. We demonstrate how spin-polarized currents can be achieved with the help of a barrier or quantum point contact open for transmission only in the lower subband.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- October 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.74.165301
- arXiv:
- arXiv:cond-mat/0506516
- Bibcode:
- 2006PhRvB..74p5301S
- Keywords:
-
- 73.23.-b;
- 72.25.Hg;
- 03.65.Sq;
- Electronic transport in mesoscopic systems;
- Electrical injection of spin polarized carriers;
- Semiclassical theories and applications;
- Condensed Matter - Mesoscopic Systems and Quantum Hall Effect
- E-Print:
- 6 pages, 2 figures