Electronic properties of graphene and graphene nanoribbons with "pseudo-Rashba" spin-orbit coupling

TL;DR

This paper investigates how pseudo-Rashba spin-orbit coupling affects the electronic and spin properties of graphene and nanoribbons, revealing spin polarization effects and boundary scattering behaviors.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of scattering and spin polarization phenomena in graphene with pseudo-Rashba coupling, including boundary effects and non-equilibrium conditions.

Findings

Strong spin polarization along boundaries at high energies

Reflection can act as a spin polarizer or switch

Evanescent modes influence spin distribution

Abstract

We discuss the electronic properties of graphene and graphene nanoribbons including "pseudo-Rashba" spin-orbit coupling. After summarizing the bulk properties, we first analyze the scattering behavior close to an infinite mass and zigzag boundary. For low energies, we observe strong deviations from the usual spin-conserving behavior at high energies such as reflection acting as spin polarizer or switch. This results in a spin polarization along the direction of the boundary due to the appearance of evanescent modes in the case of non-equilibrium or when there is no coherence between the two one-particle branches. We then discuss the spin and density distribution of graphene nanoribbons.