Spin-orbit coupling effects in one-dimensional ballistic quantum wires

TL;DR

This paper investigates how Rashba spin-orbit interaction influences spin-dependent electron transport in one-dimensional ballistic quantum wires, revealing spin rotation effects and potential for spin-polarized currents, with a lattice model for future interaction studies.

Contribution

It generalizes previous models to include lateral confinement effects, demonstrating spin rotation out of plane and constructing a lattice model for interaction analysis.

Findings

Spin rotation out of the plane due to lateral confinement

Potential for spin-polarized electron transport

A lattice model capturing low-energy physics

Abstract

We study the spin-dependent electronic transport through a one-dimensional ballistic quantum wire in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit interaction. In particular, we consider the effect of the spin-orbit interaction resulting from the lateral confinement of the two-dimensional electron gas to the one-dimensional wire geometry. We generalize a situation suggested earlier [P. Streda and P. Seba, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 256601 (2003)] which allows for spin-polarized electron transport. As a result of the lateral confinement, the spin is rotated out of the plane of the two-dimensional system. We furthermore investigate the spin-dependent transmission and the polarization of an electron current at a potential barrier. Finally, we construct a lattice model which shows similar low-energy physics. In the future, this lattice model will allow us to study how the electron-electron interaction affects the transport properties of the present setup.