Vanishing spin-Hall current in a diffusive Rashba two-dimensional electron system: A quantum Boltzmann equation approach

TL;DR

This paper uses a quantum Boltzmann equation approach to demonstrate that the spin-Hall current vanishes in a diffusive Rashba two-dimensional electron system, regardless of disorder, temperature, or scattering potential.

Contribution

It provides an analytical proof that the spin-Hall current always vanishes in this system, clarifying the role of disorder and scattering effects.

Findings

Spin-Hall current vanishes regardless of coupling strength.

The vanishing is independent of temperature and scattering potential.

Analytical proof within the quantum Boltzmann framework.

Abstract

We present a quantum Boltzmann equation analysis of the spin-Hall effect in a diffusive Rashba two-dimensional electron system. Within the framework of the self-consistent Born approximation, we consider the roles of disorder-induced quasiclassical relaxation, collisional broadening of the quasiparticles, and the intracollisional field effect in regard to spin-Hall dynamics. We present an analytical proof that the spin-Hall current vanishes, independently of the coupling strength, of the quasiparticle broadening, of temperature and of the specific form of the isotropic scattering potential. A sum relation of the collision terms in a helicity basis is also examined.