Magnetic Field Induced Nonlinear Transport in LaTiO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ Interfaces

TL;DR

This paper develops a quantum kinetic theory to explain the nonlinear transport phenomena observed in LaTiO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces under magnetic fields, revealing how the second harmonic response varies with field strength and disorder.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework based on the quantum kinetic equation to analyze nonlinear transport in spin-orbit coupled interfaces under magnetic fields, including the reversal of nonlinear current direction.

Findings

Second harmonic increases linearly with magnetic field at small fields.

Peak of the second harmonic depends on disorder-induced relaxation rate.

Nonlinear current direction can be reversed at a critical magnetic field.

Abstract

Motivated by the recent experimental measurements of the nonlinear longitudinal resistance of the spin-orbit coupled electron gas in the (111) LaTiO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces under external in-plane magnetic field [G. Tuvia \emph{et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 146301 (2024)], we formulate a theory of nonlinear electronic transport based on the analysis of the quantum kinetic equation for the Wigner distribution function. Specifically, we evaluate the magnetic field dependence of the second harmonic of the current density at arbitrary values of the magnetic field. The magnitude of the second harmonic increases linearly with the magnetic field at small fields. Upon further increase of the magnetic field, the second harmonic response reaches its maximum value. We find that the position of the peak and its width strongly depend on the relaxation rate due to disorder. Importantly, we discover that the direction of the nonlinear contribution to the current can be completely reversed when the magnetic field reaches a certain critical value.