Electrical generation of spin in crystals with reduced symmetry

Dimitrie Culcer, Yugui Yao, A. H. MacDonald, and Qian Niu
Phys. Rev. B 72, 045215 – Published 20 July 2005

Abstract

We propose a simple way of evaluating the bulk spin generation of an arbitrary crystal with a known band structure in the strong spin-orbit coupling limit. We show that, in the presence of an electric field, there exists an intrinsic torque term which gives rise to a nonzero spin generation rate. Using methods similar to those of recent experiments which measure spin polarization in semiconductors, this spin generation rate should be experimentally observable. The wide applicability of this effect is emphasized by explicit consideration of a range of examples: bulk wurtzite and strained zinc-blende (n-GaAs) lattices, as well as quantum well heterojunction systems.

  • Received 17 February 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.72.045215

©2005 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Dimitrie Culcer, Yugui Yao, A. H. MacDonald, and Qian Niu

  • Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-1081, USA, and International Center for Quantum Structures, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 72, Iss. 4 — 15 July 2005

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×