Two dimensional electron liquid in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit coupling: symmetric momentum space occupation states

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the orientation of local electron spins in momentum space influences the phases of a two-dimensional electron liquid with Rashba spin-orbit coupling, revealing various symmetric occupation states and spin textures.

Contribution

It introduces a mean field theory framework to identify multiple phases, including paramagnetic and spin-polarized chiral states with nontrivial spin textures, expanding understanding of electron liquids with spin-orbit interactions.

Findings

Identification of symmetric momentum space occupation states.

Existence of uniform paramagnetic and spin-polarized chiral solutions.

Discussion of generalized chirality and state stability.

Abstract

The orientation of the local electron spin quantization axis in momentum space is identified as the most significant physical variable in determining the states of a two-dimensional electron liquid in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit coupling. Within mean field theory several phases can be identified that are characterized by a simple symmetric momentum space occupation. The problem admits uniform paramagnetic as well as spin polarized chiral solutions. The latter have a nontrivial spin texture in momentum space and are constructed out of states that are not solutions of the non interacting Hamiltonian. The concept of generalized chirality as well as the stability of spatially homogeneous states are also discussed.