Weak-localization and spin-orbit interaction in side-gate field effect devices at the LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interface

TL;DR

This study investigates how spin-orbit interaction influences low-temperature magnetotransport in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface devices, revealing complex scattering regimes and the significant role of spin-orbit effects beyond superconductivity.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the temperature and doping dependence of magnetotransport, highlighting the dominant role of spin-orbit interaction in a broad phase diagram region.

Findings

Spin-orbit interaction significantly affects low-temperature transport.

Different transport regimes depend on scattering times and temperature.

Spin-orbit effects extend beyond the superconducting dome.

Abstract

Using field effect devices with side gates, we modulate the 2 dimensional electron gas hosted at the LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interface to study the temperature and doping evolution of the magnetotransport. The analysis of the data reveals different transport regimes depending on the interplay between the different (elastic, inelastic, and spin-orbit) scattering times and their temperature dependencies. We find that the spin-orbit interaction strongly affects the low temperature transport in the normal state in a very large region of the phase diagram, extending beyond the superconducting dome.