Spin-orbit induced interference in quantum corrals

TL;DR

This paper investigates how spin-orbit interaction affects the local density of states in quantum corrals on metal surfaces, predicting observable modulations in STM experiments due to spin-orbit induced interference effects.

Contribution

It introduces a multiple scattering theory approach to analyze spin-orbit effects in quantum corrals, revealing modulations in LDOS contrary to previous predictions.

Findings

Spin-orbit coupling causes observable LDOS modulations in quantum corrals.

Theoretical predictions suggest these modulations are detectable via STM.

Contradicts earlier theoretical assumptions about spin-orbit effects in such structures.

Abstract

Lack of inversion symmetry at a metallic surface can lead to an observable spin-orbit interaction. For certain metal surfaces, such as the Au(111) surface, the experimentally observed spin-orbit coupling results in spin rotation lengths on the order of tens of nanometers, which is the typical length scale associated with quantum corral structures formed on metal surfaces. In this work, multiple scattering theory is used to calculate the local density of states (LDOS) of quantum corral structures comprised of nonmagnetic adatoms in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. Contrary to previous theoretical predictions, spin-orbit coupling induced modulations are observed in the theoretical LDOS, which should be observable using scanning tunneling microscopy.