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Article

Abstract

We demonstrate that a homogeneous spin polarization in one-dimensional structures of finite length in the presence of Bychkov-Rashba spin-orbit coupling decays spontaneously toward a persistent spin helix. Such a strikingly different and simple method enables us to generate robust spin structures whose properties can be tuned by the strength of the spin-orbit interaction and/or the structure’s length. We generalize our results for the two-dimensional case predicting the formation of a persistent spin helix in two-dimensional channels from homogeneous spin polarization. An analysis of the formation of a spin helical state is presented within an approach based on a mapping of spin drift-diffusion equations into a heat equation for a complex field.

Rights

Slipko, V. A., Savran, I., & Pershin, Y. V. (2011). Spontaneous emergence of persistent spin helix from homogeneous spin polarization. Physical Review B, 83(19), 193302-1 - 193302-4. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.83.193302

© Physical Review B, 2011, American Physical Society

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