Multiple-scattering theory for two-dimensional electron gases in the presence of spin-orbit coupling

Citation:

Walls, J.D., Huang, J., Westervelt, R.M. & Heller, E.J. Multiple-scattering theory for two-dimensional electron gases in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. Physical Review B 73, 035325 (2006).

Abstract:

In order to model the phase-coherent scattering of electrons in two-dimensional electron gases in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit coupling, a general partial-wave expansion is developed for scattering from a cylindrically symmetric potential. The theory is applied to possible electron flow imaging experiments using a moveable scanning probe microscope tip. In such experiments, it is demonstrated theoretically that the Rashba spin-orbit coupling can give rise to spin interference effects, even for unpolarized electrons at nonzero temperature and no magnetic field.

Publisher's Version

Last updated on 10/07/2016