Spin-texture topology in curved circuits driven by spin-orbit interactions

TL;DR

This paper investigates how spin-orbit interactions in curved interferometric circuits influence spin textures and electronic wave function localization, revealing topological features and conductance suppression.

Contribution

It introduces a topological framework for classifying spin textures in curved circuits affected by Rashba and Dresselhaus interactions, linking geometry to quantum transport.

Findings

Spin textures are classified by winding numbers.

Wave function localization occurs in square circuits.

Quantum conductance is suppressed due to spin texture effects.

Abstract

Interferometry is a powerful technique used to extract valuable information about the wave function of a system. In this work, we study the response of spin carriers to the effective field textures developed in curved one-dimensional interferometric circuits subject to the joint action of Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions. By using a quantum network technique, we establish that the interplay between these two non-Abelian fields and the circuit's geometry modify the geometrical characteristics of the spinors, particularly on square circuits, leading to the localisation of the electronic wave function and the suppression of the quantum conductance. We propose a topological interpretation by classifying the corresponding spin textures in terms of winding numbers.