Spin polarization induced by an electric field in the presence of weak localization effects

TL;DR

This paper investigates how weak localization effects influence spin polarization and spin Hall currents in a 2D electron gas under an electric field, revealing logarithmic corrections and a zero net correction to the spin Hall conductivity.

Contribution

It introduces the inclusion of weak localization corrections in calculating spin polarization and spin Hall effects, showing their impact on conductivity and the spin Hall angle.

Findings

Logarithmic corrections to spin polarization conductivity and spin Hall angle

Zero net correction to total spin Hall conductivity due to renormalization effects

Guidance for experimental observation of the effects

Abstract

We evaluate the spin polarization (Edelstein or inverse spin galvanic effect) and the spin Hall current induced by an applied electric field by including the weak localization corrections for a two-dimensional electron gas. We show that the weak localization effects yield logarithmic corrections to both the spin polarization conductivity relating the spin polarization and the electric field and to the spin Hall angle relating the spin and charge currents. The renormalization of both the spin polarization conductivity and the spin Hall angle combine to produce a zero correction to the total spin Hall conductivity as required by an exact identity. Suggestions for the experimental observation of the effect are given.