Dynamic generation of spin-orbit coupling.
Spin-orbit coupling plays an important role in determining the properties of solids, and is crucial for spintronics device applications. Conventional spin-orbit coupling arises microscopically from relativistic effects described by the Dirac equation, and is described as a single particle band effect. In this work, we propose a new mechanism in which spin-orbit coupling can be generated dynamically in strongly correlated, nonrelativistic systems as the result of Fermi surface instabilities in higher angular momentum channels. Various spin-orbit couplings can emerge in these new phases, and their magnitudes can be continuously tuned by temperature or other quantum parameters.
Department of Physics, McCullough Building, Stanford University, Stanford California 94305-4045, USA.
Congjun
C
Wu
Shou-Cheng
SC
Zhang