Spin-resolved orbital magnetization in Rashba two-dimensional electron gas

TL;DR

This paper calculates the spin-dependent orbital magnetization in a Rashba 2D electron gas, revealing its role in spin currents and the spin Nernst effect using linear response theory.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for calculating spin-resolved orbital magnetization in Rashba systems, highlighting its impact on spin transport phenomena.

Findings

Orbital magnetization depends on spin in Rashba systems.

Spin currents arise from spin-resolved orbital magnetization.

Correct description of spin Nernst conductivity requires including these spin currents.

Abstract

We calculate orbital spin-dependent magnetization in a two-dimensional electron gas with spin-orbit interaction of Rashba type. Such an orbital magnetization is admitted by the time-reversal symmetry of the system, and gives rise to spin currents when the system is not in thermal equilibrium. The theoretical approach is based on the linear response theory and the Matsubara Green's function formalism. To account for the spin-resolved orbital magnetization a spin-dependent vector potential has been introduced. The spin currents which appear in thermal nonequilibrium due to the spin-resolved orbital magnetization play an important role in the spin Nernst effect, and have to be included in order to correctly describe the low-temperature spin Nernst conductivity.