Spin-polarized electric currents in quantum transport through tubular two-dimensional electron gases

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22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Scattering theory is employed to derive a Landauer-type formula for the spin and the charge currents, through a finite region where spin-orbit interactions are effective. It is shown that the transmission matrix yields the spatial direction and the magnitude of the spin polarization. This formula is used to study the currents through a tubular two-dimensional electron gas. In this cylindrical geometry, which may be realized in experiment, the transverse conduction channels are not mixed (provided that the spin-orbit coupling is uniform). It is then found that for modest boundary scattering, each step in the quantized conductance is split into two, and the new steps have a nonzero spin conductance with the spin polarization perpendicular to the direction of the current.

Original languageEnglish
Article number075439
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume81
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 26 Feb 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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