Spin-orbit interactions mediated negative differential resistance in a quasi-two-dimensional electron gas with finite thickness

Abstract

Effects of the spin-orbit interactions on the energy spectrum, Fermi surface and spin dynamics are studied in structural- and bulk-inversion asymmetric quasi-two-dimensional structures with a finite thickness in the presence of a parabolic transverse confining potential. One-particle quantum mechanical problem in the presence of an in-plane magnetic field is solved numerically exact. Interplay of the spin-orbit interactions, orbital- and Zeeman-effects of the in-plane magnetic field yields a multi-valley subband structure, typical for realization of the Gunn effect. A possible Gunn-effect-mediated spin accumulation is discussed.