Quantum Rings with Rashba spin orbit coupling: a path integral approach

TL;DR

This paper develops a path integral method to analyze quantum interference effects in ballistic quantum rings with Rashba spin-orbit coupling, accounting for various spin and orbital interactions to interpret experimental results.

Contribution

It introduces a semiclassical path integral approach that exactly solves spin dynamics in quantum rings with Rashba interaction, including Zeeman and Berry phases.

Findings

Analyzes the influence of Berry and Aharonov-Casher phases on conductance.

Studies the effects of Zeeman interaction on quantum interference.

Provides insights into recent experimental measurements on interferometric rings.

Abstract

We employ a path integral real time approach to compute the DC conductance and spin polarization for electrons transported across a ballistic Quantum Ring with Rashba spin-orbit interaction. We use a piecewise semiclassical approximation for the particle orbital motion and solve the spin dynamics exactly, by accounting for both Zeeman coupling and spin-orbit interaction at the same time. Within our approach, we are able to study how the interplay between Berry phase, Ahronov Casher phase, Zeeman interaction and weak localization corrections influences the quantum interference in the conductance within a wide range of externally applied fields. Our results are helpful in inerpreting recent measurements on interferometric rings.