Thomas precession, persistent spin currents and quantum forces

Abstract

We consider T-invariant spin currents induced by spin-orbit interactions which originate from the confined motion of spin carriers in nanostructures. The resulting Thomas spin precession is a fundamental and purely kinematic relativistic effect occurring when the acceleration of carriers is not parallel to their velocity. In the case, where the carriers (e.g. electrons) have magnetic moment the forces due to the electric field of the spin current can, in certain conditions, exceed the van der Waals-Casimir forces by several orders of magnitude. We also discuss a possible experimental set-up tailored to use these forces for checking the existence of a nonzero anomalous magnetic moment of the photon.