Universal Intrinsic Spin-Hall Effect

TL;DR

This paper introduces a universal intrinsic spin-Hall effect in high mobility 2D electron systems with Rashba spin-orbit coupling, leading to dissipationless spin currents perpendicular to charge flow.

Contribution

It demonstrates that in such systems, the spin-Hall conductivity is universal when both spin-orbit split bands are occupied.

Findings

Universal spin-Hall conductivity in Rashba systems

Dissipationless spin currents perpendicular to charge current

Intrinsic effect independent of material specifics

Abstract

We describe a new effect in semiconductor spintronics that leads to dissipationless spin-currents in paramagnetic spin-orbit coupled systems. We argue that in a high mobility two-dimensional electron system with substantial Rashba spin-orbit coupling, a spin-current that flows perpendicular to the charge current is intrinsic. In the usual case where both spin-orbit split bands are occupied, the spin-Hall conductivity has a universal value.