Universal symmetry-protected persistent spin textures in nonmagnetic solids

TL;DR

This paper reveals that symmetry-protected persistent spin textures are universally present in all nonmagnetic, non-inversion symmetric solids, providing a fundamental basis for developing robust spintronic materials.

Contribution

It systematically establishes the conditions for symmetry-protected PST in all nonmagnetic crystals and identifies their universal presence across all relevant space groups.

Findings

PST exists in all nonmagnetic, non-inversion symmetric solids.

Group theory identifies PST regions and spin directions in the Brillouin zone.

First-principles calculations support the universal presence of PST.

Abstract

The significance of Mendeleev's periodic table extends beyond the classification of elements; it lies in its remarkable predictive power for discovering new elements and properties, revealing the underlying symmetrical patterns of nature that were only fully understood with the advent of quantum mechanics. Fundamental material properties, such as electron transport and magnetism, are also governed by crystal symmetry. In particular, spin transport depends on the spin polarization of electronic states, and recently discovered materials where the electron spin polarization is independent of momentum - a property known as a persistent spin texture (PST) - promise extended spin lifetime and efficient spin accumulation. In this paper, we establish the general conditions for the existence of symmetry-protected PST in bulk crystals. By systematically analyzing all 230 crystallographic space groups, similar to elements in the periodic table, we demonstrate that PST is universally present in all nonmagnetic solids lacking inversion symmetry. Using group theory, we identify the regions within the Brillouin zone that host PST and determine the corresponding directions of spin polarization. Our findings, supported by first-principles calculations of representative materials, open the route for discovering robust spintronic materials based on PST.