Rashba spin-orbit coupling and quantum-interference effect for a pair of spin-correlated electrons in their tunneling and reflection under a step potential

TL;DR

This paper investigates how Rashba spin-orbit coupling influences tunneling and reflection of spin-correlated electrons at a potential step, revealing quantum interference effects with potential applications in spintronics and quantum computing.

Contribution

It provides a combined theoretical and numerical analysis of spin-dependent tunneling and reflection phenomena influenced by Rashba spin-orbit interaction.

Findings

Identification of inter-spin-channel tunneling and reflection features.

Observation of spin-state quantum interference effects.

Potential implications for spintronics and quantum computation applications.

Abstract

We present both theory and numerical-computation results for the transmission and reflection probability currents of a charged particle across a potential step in the presence of a Rashba spin-orbit interaction. By varying kinetic energy and angle of incident electrons or barrier height, different features associated with tunneling and reflection of electrons are revealed by inter-spin-channel electron tunnelings and reflections. These unique properties are further accompanied by spin-state quantum interference of either a reflected or transmitted pairs of spin-correlated electrons with the same kinetic energy but in different spin-orbital states. Such distinctive features are expected to give rise to a lot of applications in both spintronics and quantum-computation devices.