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Spin-Hall effect in two-dimensional electron systems with Rashba spin-orbit coupling and disorder
1Department of Physics and Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|February 9, 2005
Summary
This study numerically calculates spin-Hall conductance in a 2D system, finding it varies significantly with spin-orbit coupling and disorder. The spin-Hall effect persists with increasing sample size, particularly in metallic regimes.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Spintronics
- Mesoscopic Physics
Background:
- The spin-Hall effect (SHE) is a fundamental spintronic phenomenon.
- Understanding SHE in disordered systems is crucial for device applications.
- Rashba spin-orbit coupling significantly influences electronic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To numerically investigate the spin-Hall conductance in a 2D junction system.
- To analyze the impact of Rashba spin-orbit coupling and disorder on SHE.
- To determine the dependence of spin-Hall conductance on system parameters.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the four-terminal Landauer-Büttiker formula.
- Employing a Green's function approach for numerical calculations.
- Simulating a two-dimensional junction system with Rashba spin-orbit coupling and disorder.
Main Results:
- Spin-Hall conductance deviates significantly from the universal value (e/8π).
- Conductance values are sensitive to spin-orbit coupling strength, Fermi energy, and disorder.
- The spin-Hall conductance remains non-zero as sample size increases across various disorder strengths.
Conclusions:
- Nonzero spin-orbit coupling can induce electron delocalization below a critical disorder strength.
- A persistent spin-Hall effect is observed predominantly in the metallic regime.
- The findings offer insights into controlling spin transport in mesoscopic systems.