Spin-orbit interaction induced spin selective transmission through a multi-terminal mesoscopic ring

TL;DR

This paper investigates how Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions influence spin-dependent electron transport in a multi-terminal mesoscopic ring, revealing the dynamics of spin polarization and interface effects.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive analysis of spin polarization components in a mesoscopic ring with spin-orbit interactions using a spin density matrix formalism.

Findings

Spin polarization components are sensitive to interface geometry.

Rashba and Dresselhaus couplings significantly affect spin transmission.

The study enhances understanding of coupled spin and charge transport in mesoscopic systems.

Abstract

Spin dependent transport in a multi-terminal mesoscopic ring is investigated in presence of Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions. Within a tight-binding framework we use a general spin density matrix formalism to evaluate all three components ($P_x$, $P_y$ and $P_z$) of the polarization vector associated with the charge current through the outgoing leads. It explores the dynamics of the spin polarization vector of current propagating through the system subjected to the Rashba and/or the Dresselhaus spin-orbit couplings. The sensitivity of the polarization components on the electrode-ring interface geometry is discussed in detail. Our present analysis provides an understanding of the coupled spin and electron transport in mesoscopic bridge systems.