Berry phase and adiabaticity of a spin diffusing in a non-uniform magnetic field

TL;DR

This paper investigates the conditions under which an electron spin in a non-uniform magnetic field acquires a Berry phase, clarifying the requirements for adiabaticity in diffusive systems and its experimental implications.

Contribution

It provides an exact solution to the diffusion equation for the Cooperon, resolving conflicting theories about adiabaticity conditions in diffusive spin systems.

Findings

Adiabaticity requires spin-precession time to be shorter than elastic scattering time.

Exact solution of the Cooperon diffusion equation for non-uniform fields.

Experimental observation of Berry phase is more challenging than previously thought.

Abstract

An electron spin moving adiabatically in a strong, spatially non-uniform magnetic field accumulates a geometric phase or Berry phase, which might be observable as a conductance oscillation in a mesoscopic ring. Two contradicting theories exist for how strong the magnetic field should be to ensure adiabaticity if the motion is diffusive. To resolve this controversy, we study the effect of a non-uniform magnetic field on the spin polarization and on the weak-localization effect. The diffusion equation for the Cooperon is solved exactly. Adiabaticity requires that the spin-precession time is short compared to the elastic scattering time - it is not sufficient that it is short compared to the diffusion time around the ring. This strong condition severely complicates the experimental observation.