Spin Photovoltaic Effect in Quantum Wires with Rashba Interaction

TL;DR

This paper proposes a mechanism for generating spin-polarized photocurrents in quantum wires through Rashba spin-orbit interaction, magnetic fields, and microwave radiation, enabling pure spin current production without bias.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method for spin current generation in quantum wires leveraging combined effects of Rashba interaction, magnetic field, and microwave radiation.

Findings

Pure spin currents can be generated at zero bias.

Spectrum asymmetry in k-space is key to the effect.

External parameters can control spin current generation.

Abstract

We propose a mechanism for spin polarized photocurrent generation in quantum wires. The effect is due to the combined effect of Rashba spin-orbit interaction, external magnetic field and microwave radiation. The time-independent interactions in the wire give rise to a spectrum asymmetry in k-space. The microwave radiation induces transitions between spin-splitted subbands, and, due to the peculiar energy dispersion relation, charge and spin currents are generated at zero bias voltage. We demonstrate that the generation of pure spin currents is possible under an appropriate choice of external control parameters.