Gauge covariance and spin-current conservation in the gauge-field formulation of systems with spin-orbit coupling

DOI10.1088/1751-8113/45/10/105305zbMATH Open1251.82050arXiv1601.04158OpenAlexW3101969966WikidataQ58895427 ScholiaQ58895427MaRDI QIDQ2880359FDOQ2880359

Authors: M. S. Shikakhwa, S. Turgut, N. K. Pak 

Publication date: 13 April 2012

Published in: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: The question of gauge-covariance in the non-Abelian gauge-field formulation of two space-dimensional systems with spin-orbit coupling relevant to spintronics is investigated. Although, these are generally gauge-fixed models, it is found that for the class of gauge fields that are space-time independent and satisfy a U(1) algebra, thus having a vanishing field strength, there is a residual gauge freedom in the Hamiltonian. The gauge transformations assume the form of a space-dependent rotation of the transformed wave functions with rotation angles and axes determined by the specific form of the gauge-field, i.e., the spin-orbit coupling. The fields can be gauged away, reducing the Hamiltonian to one which is isospectral to the free-particle Hamiltonian, and giving rise to the phenomenon of persistent spin helix reported first by B.~A.~Bernevig emph{et al.} [Phys.~Rev.~Lett. extbf{97}, 236601 (2006)]. The investigation of the global gauge transformations leads to the derivation of a continuity equation where the component of the spin-density along given directions, again fixed by the specific form of the gauge field, is conserved.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1601.04158

Recommendations

• Spin dynamics under local gauge fields in chiral spin-orbit coupling systems
• Spin-orbit gauge and quantum spin Hall effect
• Spin–orbit coupling in the spin-current-density-functional theory
• The role of gauge symmetry in spintronics
• Spin-spin and spin-orbit interactions in strongly coupled gauge theories
• Spin gauge fields: from Berry phase to topological spin transport and Hall effects
• Spin dynamics with non-Abelian Berry gauge fields as a semiclassical constrained Hamiltonian system
• On aq-analogue of the spin-orbit coupling
• Coulomb interaction effects on the SPIN polarization and currents in quantum wires with SPIN orbit interaction
• Spinor electrodynamics in terms of gauge-invariant quantities

zbMATH Keywords

spintronicsspin-orbit couplinggauge covariance

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Yang-Mills and other gauge theories in quantum field theory (81T13) Statistical mechanics of solids (82D20)

Cited In (10)

• Gauge theory approach for diffusive and precessional spin dynamics in a two-dimensional electron gas
• Hamiltonian for a particle in a magnetic field on a curved surface in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates
• Spin dynamics under local gauge fields in chiral spin-orbit coupling systems
• The role of gauge symmetry in spintronics
• SU(2) × U(1) unified theory for charge, orbit and spin currents
• Gauge concepts in theoretical applied physics
• On the Bargmann-Michel-Telegdi equations, and spin-orbit coupling: a tribute to Raymond Stora
• Revisiting the compatibility problem between the gauge principle and the observability of the canonical orbital angular momentum in the Landau problem
• Spin force and torque in non-relativistic Dirac oscillator on a sphere
• Hermitian spin-orbit Hamiltonians on a surface in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates: a new practical approach

This page was built for publication: Gauge covariance and spin-current conservation in the gauge-field formulation of systems with spin-orbit coupling

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2880359)