Hydrodynamic Navier-Stokes equations in two-dimensional systems with Rashba spin-orbit coupling

TL;DR

This paper derives a generalized hydrodynamic Navier-Stokes equation for 2D electron systems with Rashba spin-orbit coupling, revealing how spin-orbit interactions influence viscosity, enthalpy, and observable transport phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a semiclassical Boltzmann framework and derives a new hydrodynamic equation accounting for Rashba spin-orbit effects in 2D electron systems.

Findings

Spin-orbit coupling affects the viscosity and enthalpy of the electron fluid.

The derived equations predict observable effects in hydrodynamic transport.

The work extends hydrodynamic theory to include spin-orbit interactions in 2D systems.

Abstract

We study a two-dimensional (2D) electron system with a linear spectrum in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit (RSO) coupling in the hydrodynamic regime. We derive a semiclassical Boltzmann equation with a collision integral due to Coulomb interactions in the basis of the eigenstates of the system with RSO coupling. Using the local equilibrium distribution functions, we obtain a generalized hydrodynamic Navier-Stokes equation for electronic systems with RSO coupling. In particular, we discuss the influence of the spin-orbit coupling on the viscosity and the enthalpy of the system and present some of its observable effects in hydrodynamic transport.