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Spin accumulation and equilibrium currents at the edge of 2DEGs with spin-orbit coupling

G. Usaj and C. A. Balseiro

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We show that in a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) the interplay between the Rashba spin-orbit coupling and a potential barrier (e.g., the sample edge) generates interesting spin effects. In the presence of an external charge current, a spin accumulation is built up near the barrier while in equilibrium there is an inhomogeneous spin current which is localized at the barrier and flows parallel to it. When an in-plane magnetic field perpendicular to the barrier is applied, the system also develops an inhomogeneous charge current density. These effects originate purely from the structure of the eigenstates near the boundary.


PACS

73.23.-b Electronic transport in mesoscopic systems

72.25.Dc Spin polarized transport in semiconductors

73.20.-r Electron states at surfaces and interfaces

Subjects

Condensed matter: electrical, magnetic and optical

Semiconductors

Surfaces, interfaces and thin films

Dates

Issue 4 (November 2005)

Received 20 July 2005, accepted for publication 16 September 2005, in final form 16 September 2005

Published 14 October 2005



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