Thermally-induced spin polarization in a magnetized two-dimensional electron gas with Rashba spin-orbit interaction

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates how a temperature gradient induces spin polarization in a magnetized 2DEG with Rashba spin-orbit interaction, analyzing its temperature dependence and physical mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for understanding thermally-induced spin polarization in magnetized 2DEGs with Rashba interaction, including arbitrary exchange field orientations.

Findings

Spin polarization depends on temperature and exchange field orientation.

The nonmagnetic limit (zero exchange field) is analyzed.

Physical mechanisms of spin polarization are discussed.

Abstract

Spin polarization induced by a temperature gradient (heat-current) in a magnetized two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) with Rashba spin-orbit interaction is considered theoretically within the linear response theory. Using the Matsubara Green function formalism we calculate the temperature dependence of the spin polarization for arbitrary orientation of the exchange field. The limit of a nonmagnetic 2DEG (zero exchange field) is also considered. The physical mechanisms of the spin polarization within our scheme are discussed.