Document Type
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.
Publication Info
Published in Physical Review B, ed. Gene D. Sprouse, Volume 83, Issue 19, 2011, pages 193302-1-193302-4.
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