Determination of spin-orbit interaction in semiconductor nanostructures via non-linear transport

TL;DR

This paper presents a method to distinguish and quantify linear and cubic spin-orbit interactions in semiconductor nanostructures through non-linear transport measurements, supported by analytical and numerical analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a protocol to determine spin-orbit parameters from transport data, enabling rapid benchmarking of spin-orbit effects in nanostructures.

Findings

Distinguishes linear and cubic spin-orbit interactions via transport signatures.

Provides a protocol for extracting material parameters from measurements.

Validates the approach with Ge heterostructure examples.

Abstract

We investigate non-linear transport signatures stemming from linear and cubic spin-orbit interactions in one- and two-dimensional systems. The analytical zero-temperature response to external fields is complemented by finite temperature numerical analysis, establishing a way to distinguish between linear and cubic spin-orbit interactions. We also propose a protocol to determine the relevant material parameters from transport measurements attainable in realistic conditions, illustrated by values for Ge heterostructures. Our results establish a method for the fast benchmarking of spin-orbit properties in semiconductor nanostructures.