Nonlinear Orbital and Spin Edelstein Effect in Centrosymmetric Metals

TL;DR

This paper investigates the nonlinear Edelstein effect in centrosymmetric metals, revealing the fundamental role of orbital degrees of freedom and proposing mechanisms for spin and orbital density generation independent of spin-orbit coupling.

Contribution

It demonstrates that nonlinear orbital density can be generated without spin-orbit coupling and elucidates the microscopic mechanism involving orbital Rashba texture.

Findings

Nonlinear orbital density arises independently of spin-orbit coupling.

Spin density is induced via spin-orbit coupling.

Potential for field-free magnetization switching applications.

Abstract

Nonlinear spintronics combines nonlinear dynamics with spintronics, opening up new possibilities beyond linear responses. A recent theoretical work [Xiao et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 166302 (2023)] predicts the nonlinear generation of spin density [nonlinear spin Edelstein effect (NSEE)] in centrosymmetric metals based on symmetry analysis combined with first principle calculation. However, its microscopic mechanism is limited to a specific set of materials with local inversion symmetry breaking and is not applicable to general materials. This paper focuses on the fundamental role of orbital degrees of freedom for the nonlinear generation in centrosymmetric systems. Using a combination of tight-binding model and density functional theory calculations, we demonstrate that nonlinear orbital density can arise independently of spin-orbit coupling. In contrast, spin density follows through spin-orbit coupling. We further elucidate the microscopic mechanism responsible for this phenomenon, which involves the NSEE induced by electric-field-induced orbital Rashba texture. In addition, we also explore the potential applications of the nonlinear orbital and spin Edelstein effect for field-free switching of magnetization.