Spin snake states with spin-orbit and Zeeman interactions in an inhomogeneous magnetic field

Abstract

We study the spin edge states, induced by the combined effect of Bychkov-Rashba spin-orbit, Zeeman interactions and inhomogeneous magnetic field, exposed perpendicularly to two-dimensional electron systems. We calculate analytically the spectrum of the spin edge states (the spin snakes orbits) in systems where the magnetic field exhibits a discontinuous jump in the transverse direction and changes its sign at the magnetic interface. The obtained magnetic spin edge states in a 2DES exhibit several interesting properties: in particular, electrons reverse their propagation direction at finite values of their momentum.