Spin-orbit interactions mediated negative differential resistance in a quasi-two-dimensional electron gas with finite thickness

TL;DR

This paper investigates how spin-orbit interactions influence the energy spectrum, Fermi surface, and spin dynamics in quasi-two-dimensional electron gases with finite thickness, revealing complex multi-valley structures and potential spin accumulation effects.

Contribution

It provides a numerical exact analysis of the combined effects of spin-orbit interactions and in-plane magnetic fields on the electronic properties of finite-thickness quasi-2D structures.

Findings

Multi-valley subband structures emerge due to interplay of spin-orbit and magnetic effects.

The study suggests a mechanism for Gunn-effect-mediated spin accumulation.

Finite thickness significantly affects the energy spectrum and spin dynamics.

Abstract

Effects of the spin-orbit interactions on the energy spectrum, Fermi surface and spin dynamics are studied in structural- and bulk-inversion asymmetric quasi-two-dimensional structures with a finite thickness in the presence of a parabolic transverse confining potential. One-particle quantum mechanical problem in the presence of an in-plane magnetic field is solved numerically exact. Interplay of the spin-orbit interactions, orbital- and Zeeman-effects of the in-plane magnetic field yields a multi-valley subband structure, typical for realization of the Gunn effect. A possible Gunn-effect-mediated spin accumulation is discussed.