English

Spin Photovoltaic Effect in Quantum Wires with Rashba Interaction

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics 2007-05-23 v1

Abstract

We propose a mechanism for spin polarized photocurrent generation in quantum wires. The effect is due to the combined effect of Rashba spin-orbit interaction, external magnetic field and microwave radiation. The time-independent interactions in the wire give rise to a spectrum asymmetry in k-space. The microwave radiation induces transitions between spin-splitted subbands, and, due to the peculiar energy dispersion relation, charge and spin currents are generated at zero bias voltage. We demonstrate that the generation of pure spin currents is possible under an appropriate choice of external control parameters.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0502220,
  title  = {Spin Photovoltaic Effect in Quantum Wires with Rashba Interaction},
  author = {Yuriy V. Pershin and Carlo Piermarocchi},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0502220},
  year   = {2007}
}