Spin interference in Rashba metal ring in a time-dependent magnetic field

Abstract

We investigate spin transport in a metal square ring with a strong Rashba spin orbit coupling (RSOC) effect, in the presence of a time-dependent magnetic field. We show that RSOC can be regarded as a spin-dependent gauge field which imparts a spin-dependent geometric phase (Aharonov-Casher phase) to conduction electrons in the ring. Combining the Aharonov-Bohm phase due to the time-dependent magnetic field with the able Aharonov-Casher phase due to RSOC, we are able to construct a spin interference condition, which modulates spin transport in the ring. The spin transport in the system is calculated via the tight-binding non-equilibrium Greens function formalism. Based on our transport calculations, we proposed a potential application of the Rashba square ring system as an alternating spin current generator. © 2013 American Institute of Physics.