Spin magnetotransport in a two-dimensional electron system confined in a quantum well

Abstract

We show a simple model that computes the magnetoconduction in a two-dimensional electron system (2DES) where the spin is another degree of freedom in the system. The 2DES is confined in a quantum well (QW) immersed in a heterostructure, where the Rashba spin–orbit interaction is present. When an external magnetic field is applied to the system, the competition between the spin–orbit interaction and the Zeeman effect on the magnetoconduction of the 2DES is analysed, in the cases where one or two sub-bands are occupied in the QW. In the model different spin-oriented 2DES can be treated independently, with a spin current associated with each system. The model has been tested with experimental results obtained from a 2DES formed in an InGaAs layer.