Intrinsic spin Hall effect in systems with striped spin-orbit coupling

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that in systems with striped spin-orbit coupling, strong disorder induces a finite spin Hall conductivity, contrasting with homogeneous cases, with potential realization at oxide interfaces with periodic gating.

Contribution

It reveals that non-homogeneous spin-orbit coupling due to striped structures can generate a finite spin Hall effect under strong disorder conditions.

Findings

Finite spin Hall conductivity arises in disordered systems with striped spin-orbit coupling.

Inhomogeneity in Rashba coupling affects electron density and spin transport.

Potential realization at oxide interfaces with periodic top gating.

Abstract

The Rashba spin-orbit coupling arising from structure inversion asymmetry couples spin and momentum degrees of freedom providing a suitable (and very intensively investigated) environment for spintronic effects and devices. Here we show that in the presence of strong disorder, non-homogeneity in the spin-orbit coupling gives rise to a finite spin Hall conductivity in contrast with the corresponding case of a homogeneous linear spin-orbit coupling. In particular, we examine the inhomogeneity arising from a striped structure for a two-dimensional electron gas, affecting both density and Rashba spin-orbit coupling. We suggest that this situation can be realized at oxide interfaces with periodic top gating.