Universal spin-induced Time Reversal Symmetry breaking in two-dimensional electron gases with Rashba spin-orbit interaction

TL;DR

This study experimentally demonstrates that in 2D electron gases with Rashba spin-orbit interaction, spin-induced time reversal symmetry breaking universally depends on the ratio of Zeeman energy to spin-orbit interaction energy, saturating when they are comparable.

Contribution

It reveals the universal dependence of spin-induced TRS breaking on the ratio E_Z/E_SOI in 2D electron gases with Rashba interaction, supported by experimental data.

Findings

TRS breaking saturates when E_Z is comparable to E_SOI

TRS breaking is a universal function of E_Z/E_SOI ratio

Experimental validation in InGaAs-based 2D electron gases

Abstract

We have experimentally studied the spin-induced time reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking as a function of the relative strength of the Zeeman energy (E_Z) and the Rashba spin-orbit interaction energy (E_SOI), in InGaAs-based 2D electron gases. We find that the TRS breaking saturates when E_Z becomes comparable to E_SOI. Moreover, we show that the spin-induced TRS breaking mechanism is a universal function of the ratio E_Z/E_SOI, within the experimental accuracy.