The influence of anisotropic Rashba spin–orbit coupling on current-induced spin polarization in graphene

Abstract

We consider a disordered graphene layer with anisotropic Rashba spin–orbit coupling subjected to a longitudinal electric field. Using the linear response theory we calculate current-induced spin polarization including in-plane normal and parallel components with respect to the electric field direction. Unlike the case of isotropic Rashba spin–orbit where the normal component of spin polarization is linear in terms of Fermi energy around the Dirac point, anisotropic Rashba spin–orbit can result in non-linear dependence of this component at such energies within the Lifshitz points. Furthermore, we show that anisotropic Rashba interaction allows for tuning the direction of spin polarization from perpendicular direction to the parallel one such that for certain values of Rashba parameters the magnitudes of both components can also be quenched. The effect of carriers scattering on randomly distributed non-magnetic disorders is also taken into account by calculating vertex correction. This results in modification of spin polarization components depending on the relative strength of Rashba parameters.