Magnetic and transport signatures of Rashba spin-orbit coupling on the ferromagnetic Kondo lattice model in two dimensions

Abstract

Motivated by emergent phenomena at oxide surfaces and interfaces, particularly those involving transition metal oxides with perovskite crystal structure such as LaTiO3/SrTiO3, we examine the ferromagnetic Kondo lattice model (FKLM) in the presence of a Rashba spin-orbit coupling (RSOC). Using numerical techniques, under the assumption that the electrons on localized orbitals may be treated as classical continuum spins, we compute various charge, spin and transport properties on square clusters at zero temperature. We find that the main effect of the RSOC is the destruction of the ferromagnetic state present in the FKLM at low electron fillings, with the consequent suppression of conductivity. In addition, near half-filling the RSOC leads to a departure of the antiferromagnetic state of the FKLM with a consequent reduction to the intrinsic tendency to electronic phase separation. The interplay between phase separation on one side, and magnetic and transport properties on the other, is carefully analyzed as a function of the RSOC/hopping ratio.