Thermally induced spin polarization of a two-dimensional electron gas

Abstract

Spin polarization of a two-dimensional electron gas with Rashba spin-orbit interaction, induced by a thermo-current, is considered theoretically. It is shown that a temperature gradient gives rise to an in-plane spin polarization of the electron gas, which is normal to the temperature gradient. The low-temperature spin polarization changes sign when the Fermi level crosses the bottom edge of the upper electronic subband. We also compare the results with spin polarization induced by an external electric field (current).