Orbital mechanisms of electron spin manipulation by an electric field

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for manipulating electron spins in quasi-2D systems using electric fields, highlighting the roles of Dresselhaus and Rashba spin-orbit couplings and their dependence on magnetic field orientation.

Contribution

It introduces a new theory describing how time-dependent gate voltages can control electron spins via spin-orbit interactions in quantum wells.

Findings

Spin manipulation efficiency via Dresselhaus and Rashba mechanisms

Electric field response depends on deviation from 2D limit

Magnetic field orientation influences spin response

Abstract

A theory of spin manipulation of quasi-two-dimensional (2D) electrons by a time-dependent gate voltage applied to a quantum well is developed. The Dresselhaus and Rashba spin-orbit coupling mechanisms are shown to be rather efficient for this purpose. The spin response to a perpendicular-to-plane electric field is due to a deviation from the strict 2D limit and is controlled by the ratios of the spin, cyclotron and confinement frequencies. The dependence of this response on the magnetic field direction is indicative of the strenghts of the competing spin-orbit coupling mechanisms.