Rashba spin precession in quantum Hall edge channels

TL;DR

This paper investigates how Rashba spin--orbit coupling affects quantum Hall edge channels, revealing their potential for voltage-controlled spin precession and proposing a magnet--less spin interferometer.

Contribution

It provides analytical and numerical analysis showing Rashba effects in quantum Hall edge channels and introduces a novel spin interferometer design.

Findings

Rashba coupling causes spin splitting in edge channels

Edge channels exhibit properties similar to Rashba-split quantum wires

Proposed a magnet--less spin interferometer based on these effects

Abstract

Quasi--one dimensional edge channels are formed at the boundary of a two-dimensional electron system subject to a strong perpendicular magnetic field. We consider the effect of Rashba spin--orbit coupling, induced by structural inversion asymmetry, on their electronic and transport properties. Both our analytical and numerical results show that spin--split quantum--Hall edge channels exhibit properties analogous to that of Rashba--split quantum wires. Suppressed backscattering and a long spin life time render these edge channels an ideal system for observing voltage--controlled spin precession. Based on the latter, we propose a magnet--less spin--dependent electron interferometer.