Proper definition of spin current in spin-orbit coupled systems.
The conventional definition of spin current is incomplete and unphysical in describing spin transport in systems with spin-orbit coupling. A proper and measurable spin current is established in this study, which fits well into the standard framework of near-equilibrium transport theory and has the desirable property to vanish in insulators with localized orbitals. Experimental implications of our theory are discussed.
Shi
Junren
J
Institute of Physics and ICQS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, People's Republic of China.
Zhang
Ping
P
Xiao
Di
D
Niu
Qian
Q