The combination of Rashba spin-orbit coupling and electron correlations can induce unusual phenomena in the metallic interface between SrTiO3 and LaAlO3. We consider effects of Rashba spin-orbit coupling at this interface in the context of the recent observation of anisotropic magnetism. Firstly, we show how Rashba spin-orbit coupling in a system near a band-edge can account for the observed magnetic anisotropy. Secondly, we investigate the coupling between in-plane magnetic-moment anisotropy and nematicity in the form of an orbital imbalance between dxz / dyz orbitals. We estimate this coupling to be substantial in the low electron density regime. Such an orbital ordering can affect magneto transport.
@article{arxiv.1206.1060,
title = {Spin-Orbit Coupling in LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces: Magnetism and Orbital Ordering},
author = {Mark H Fischer and Srinivas Raghu and Eun-Ah Kim},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1206.1060},
year = {2013}
}