Spin-orbit effects in armchair carbon nanotubes: analytical results

Abstract

Energy spectra and transport properties of armchair nanotubes with curvature induced spin-orbit interaction are investigated thoroughly. The spin-orbit interaction consists of two terms: the first one preserves the spin symmetry in rotating frame, while the second one breaks it. It is found that the both terms are equally important: i)at scattering on the potential step which mimics a long-range potential in the nanotubes; ii)at transport via nanotube quantum dots. It is shown that an armchair nanotube with the first spin-orbit term works as an ideal spin-filter, while the second term produces a parasitic inductance.