Layered opposite Rashba spin-orbit coupling in bilayer graphene: Loss of spin chirality, symmetry breaking, and topological transition

Abstract

Inversion symmetry in bilayer graphene allows for layered opposite Rashba spin-orbit coupling (LO-RSOC) -- the situation when the RSOC has the same magnitude but the opposite sign in two coupled spatially separated layers. We show that the LO-RSOC results in the loss of spin chirality in the momentum space, in contrast to the common uniform RSOC. This chirality loss makes it difficult to experimentally establish whether the LO-RSOC (on the scale of 10 meV) exists, because the band structure is insensitive to it. To solve this problem, we propose to identify the LO-RSOC either by gating to break the inversion symmetry or by magnetic field to break the time-reversal symmetry. Remarkably, we observe the transition between trivial and non-trivial band topology as the system deviates from the LO Rashba state. Ab inito calculations suggest that bilayer graphene encapsulated by two monolayers of Au is a candidate to be a LO Rashba system.