Hanle effect driven by weak-localization

TL;DR

This paper investigates how weak localization significantly alters the Hanle effect in two-dimensional spin-split systems, predicting non-analytic and discontinuous behaviors of spin polarization under magnetic fields due to quantum interference.

Contribution

It demonstrates that weak localization fundamentally changes the magnetic field dependence of spin polarization, revealing non-analytic and discontinuous effects in specific quantum well configurations.

Findings

Discontinuous spin polarization at zero magnetic field.

Non-analytic dependence of spin polarization on magnetic field.

Weak localization drives the Hanle effect in the studied systems.

Abstract

The influence of weak localization on Hanle effect in a two-dimensional system with spin-split spectrum is considered. We show that weak localization drastically changes the dependence of stationary spin polarization $\mathbf S$ on external magnetic field $B.$ In particular, the non-analytic dependence of $\mathbf S$ on $\mathbf B$ is predicted for III-V-based quantum wells grown in [110] direction and for [100]-grown quantum wells having equal strengths of Dresselhaus and Bychkov-Rashba spin-orbit coupling. It is shown that in weakly localized regime the components of $\mathbf S$ are discontinuous at $B=0.$ At low $B,$ the magnetic field-induced rotation of the stationary polarization is determined by quantum interference effects. This implies that the Hanle effect in such systems is totally driven by weak localization.