Beyond spin-1/2: Multipolar spin-orbit coupling in noncentrosymmetric crystals with time-reversal symmetry
Abstract
We develop a symmetry-adapted multipolar theory close to the bulk point for time-reversal-symmetric, noncentrosymmetric crystals in the strong atomic spin-orbit-coupling (-coupling) limit. Using a multiplet basis appropriate for heavy-element \textit{p}- and \textit{d}-bands, we systematically construct all symmetry-allowed spin-orbit coupling terms up to fifth order in momentum and generalize the usual spin texture to a total-angular-momentum texture. For , multipolar spin-orbit coupling qualitatively reshapes Fermi surfaces and makes the topology of Bloch states band dependent. This leads to anisotropic high- textures that go beyond a single Rashba helix. We classify these textures by their total-angular-momentum vorticity for every energy band and identify distinct phases. We show that their crossovers generate enhanced and nonmonotonic current-induced spin-polarization responses, namely the Edelstein effect, upon tuning the chemical potential. Our results provide a symmetry-based framework for analyzing and predicting multipolar spin-orbit coupling, total-angular-momentum textures, and spintronic responses in heavy-element materials without an inversion center.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2512.18449,
title = {Beyond spin-1/2: Multipolar spin-orbit coupling in noncentrosymmetric crystals with time-reversal symmetry},
author = {Masoud Bahari and Kristian Mæland and Carsten Timm and Björn Trauzettel},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2512.18449},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
(24 pages, 7 figures, 11 tables)