Towards a dephasing diode: asymmetric and geometric dephasing

TL;DR

This paper explores how asymmetric and geometric dephasing effects in quantum wires with spin-orbit coupling can create a 'dephasing diode,' with potential measurement methods suggested for experimental verification.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a dephasing diode caused by asymmetric and geometric dephasing in quantum wires with spin-orbit coupling, a novel mechanism for spin transport control.

Findings

Quantum wires can act as dephasing diodes with asymmetric spin dephasing.

Berry phase can induce additional asymmetric dephasing effects.

Proposed measurement techniques include spin detectors and Aharanov-Bohm interferometry.

Abstract

We study the effect of a noisy environment on spin and charge transport in ballistic quantum wires with spin-orbit coupling (Rashba coupling). We find that the wire then acts as a ``dephasing diode'', inducing very different dephasing of the spins of right and left movers. We also show how Berry phase (geometric phase) in a curved wire can induce such asymmetric dephasing, in addition to purely geometric dephasing. We propose ways to measure these effects through spin detectors, spin-echo techniques, and Aharanov-Bohm interferometry.