Orbital-Angular-Momentum Based Origin of Rashba-Type Surface Band Splitting

Seung Ryong Park, Choong H. Kim, Jaejun Yu, Jung Hoon Han, and Changyoung Kim
Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 156803 – Published 6 October 2011

Abstract

We propose that the existence of local orbital angular momentum (OAM) on the surfaces of high-Z materials plays a crucial role in the formation of Rashba-type surface band splitting. Local OAM state in a Bloch wave function produces an asymmetric charge distribution (electric dipole). The surface-normal electric field then aligns the electric dipole and results in chiral OAM states and the relevant Rashba-type splitting. Therefore, the band splitting originates from electric dipole interaction, not from the relativistic Zeeman splitting as proposed in the original Rashba picture. The characteristic spin chiral structure of Rashba states is formed through the spin-orbit coupling and thus is a secondary effect to the chiral OAM. Results from first-principles calculations on a single Bi layer under an external electric field verify the key predictions of the new model.

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  • Received 29 April 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.156803

© 2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Seung Ryong Park1, Choong H. Kim2, Jaejun Yu2, Jung Hoon Han3, and Changyoung Kim4,*

  • 1Department of Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea
  • 3Department of Physics and BK21 Physics Research Division, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Korea
  • 4Institute of Physics and Applied Physics, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea

  • *changyoung@yonsei.ac.kr

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Vol. 107, Iss. 15 — 7 October 2011

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