Theory of spin-Hall transport of heavy holes in semiconductor quantum wells

Abstract

Based on a proper definition of the spin current, we investigate the spin-Hall effect of heavyholes in narrow quantum wells in the presence of Rashba spin–orbit coupling byusing a spin-density matrix approach. In contrast to previous results obtainedon the basis of the conventional definition of the spin current, we arrive at theconclusion that an electric-field-induced steady-state spin-Hall current does notexist in both pure and disordered infinite samples. Only an ac field can induce aspin-Hall effect in such systems. Recently, the same conclusions were derivedfor the Rashba model, in which the spin splitting of electron states is linear ink.