# Inverse spin galvanic effect in the presence of impurity spin-orbit scattering: a diagrammatic approach

## TL;DR

This paper investigates how impurity-induced spin-orbit scattering influences the inverse spin galvanic effect in a 2D electron gas, revealing modifications in spin polarization and relaxation mechanisms using a diagrammatic approach.

## Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive diagrammatic analysis of the inverse spin galvanic effect considering multiple spin-orbit coupling sources and impurity scattering, extending prior models.

## Key findings

- Spin-orbit scattering modifies the magnitude and form of the inverse spin galvanic effect.
- Impurity scattering introduces a new spin generation torque affecting spin polarization.
- Spin relaxation time is affected by combined Elliott-Yafet and Dyakonov-Perel mechanisms.

## Abstract

Spin-charge interconversion is currently the focus of intensive experimental and theoretical research both for its intrinsic interest and for its potential exploitation in the realization of new spintronic functionalities. Spin-orbit coupling is one of the key microscopic mechanisms to couple charge currents and spin polarizations. The Rashba spin-orbit coupling in a two-dimensional electron gas has been shown to give rise to the inverse spin galvanic effect, i.e. the generation of a non-equilibrium spin polarization by a charge current. Whereas the Rashba model may be applied to the interpretation of experimental results in many cases, in general in a given real physical system spin-orbit coupling also occurs due other mechanisms such as Dresselhaus bulk inversion asymmetry and scattering from impurities. In this work we consider the inverse spin galvanic effect in the presence of Rashba, Dresselhaus and impurity spin-orbit scattering. We find that the size and form of the inverse spin galvanic effect is greatly modified by the presence of the various sources of spin-orbit coupling. Indeed, spin-orbit coupling affects the spin relaxation time by adding the Elliott-Yafet mechanism to the Dyakonov-Perel and, furthermore, it changes the non-equilibrium value of the current-induced spin polarization by introducing a new spin generation torque. We use a diagrammatic Kubo formula approach to evaluate the spin polarization-charge current response function. We finally comment about the relevance of our results for the interpretation of experimental results.