Orthogonal Cherenkov sound in spin-orbit coupled systems

TL;DR

This paper predicts a novel orthogonal Cherenkov sound effect in spin-orbit coupled two-dimensional electron gases, where the sound propagates perpendicular to subsonic electron motion due to spin degrees of freedom.

Contribution

It introduces a new type of Cherenkov effect driven by electron spin, with a rotated cone axis and localized sound distribution, distinct from conventional orbital-based Cherenkov phenomena.

Findings

Orthogonal Cherenkov sound arises from spin-orbit interactions.

The Cherenkov cone axis is rotated by a quarter-turn, orthogonal to electron motion.

Potential applications in spin-dependent acoustic devices.

Abstract

Conventionally the Cherenkov sound is governed by {\it orbital} degrees of freedom and is excited by {\it supersonic} particles. Additionally, it usually has a {\it forward} nature with a conic geometry known as the Cherenkov cone whose axis is oriented {\it along} the {\it supersonic} particle motion. Here we predict Cherenkov sound of a unique nature entirely resulting from the electronic {\it spin} degree of freedom and demonstrate a fundamentally distinct Cherenkov effect originating from essentially {\it subsonic} electrons in two-dimensional gases with both Bychkov-Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions. Specifically, we show that the axis of the conventional {\it forward} Cherenkov cone gets a nontrivial {\it quarter-turn} and at the same time the sound distribution strongly localizes around this rotated axis being now {\it orthogonal} to the {\it subsonic} particle motion. Apart from its fundamentally appealing nature, the orthogonal Cherenkov sound could have applications in planar semiconductor technology combining spin and acoustic phenomena to develop, {\it e.g.}, acoustic amplifiers or sound sources with a flexible spin dependent orientation of the sound propagation.