Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: The Rashba spin-orbit coupling arising from structure inversion asymmetry couples spin and momentum degrees of freedom providing a suitable (and very intensively investigated) environment for spintronic effects and devices. In this framework, the spin Hall effect is a crucial ingredient since it allows for the manipulation of spin degrees of freedom without magnetic fields. Here we show that, in the presence of disorder, a striped modulation of a two-dimensional electron gas, affecting both density and Rashba spin-orbit coupling, gives rise to a finite spin Hall conductivity in contrast with the corresponding homogeneous system. We suggest that this mechanism can be exploited for a practical realization of a spin Hall device. This could be implemented at oxide interfaces with periodic top gating, leading to a large ratio between the induced spin and charge currents.
Source: Europhysics Letters (EPL)
Authors: G. Seibold, S. Caprara, M. Grilli, R. Raimondi
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2949110512