Edge spin accumulation: spin Hall effect without bulk spin current

Abstract

Spin accumulation in a 2D electron gas with Rashba spin-orbit interaction subject to an electric field can take place without bulk spin currents (edge spin Hall effect). This is demonstrated for the collisional regime using the non-equilibrium distribution function determined from the standard Boltzmann equation. Spin accumulation originates from interference of incident and reflected electron waves at the sample boundary.