Edge Dynamics in a Quantum Spin Hall State: Effects from Rashba Spin-Orbit Interaction
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
2010-07-01 v2 Strongly Correlated Electrons
Abstract
We analyze the dynamics of the helical edge modes of a quantum spin Hall state in the presence of a spatially non-uniform Rashba spin-orbit (SO) interaction. A randomly fluctuating Rashba SO coupling is found to open a scattering channel which causes localization of the edge modes for a weakly screened electron-electron (e-e) interaction. A periodic modulation of the SO coupling, with a wave number commensurate with the Fermi momentum, makes the edge insulating already at intermediate strengths of the e-e interaction. We discuss implications for experiments on edge state transport in a HgTe quantum well.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1004.2777,
title = {Edge Dynamics in a Quantum Spin Hall State: Effects from Rashba Spin-Orbit Interaction},
author = {Anders Ström and Henrik Johannesson and G. I. Japaridze},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1004.2777},
year = {2010}
}
Comments
4 pages, 2 figures; published version