Zero helicity states in the $LaAlO_3/SrTiO_3$ interface

Abstract

We propose a kinetically driven mechanism based on the breaking of the spatial reflection symmetry to describe the magnetic moment and the torque observed by Lu-Li et al. (Ref. 1) for the $LaAlO_3/SrTiO_3$ system. We find that the itinerant electrons are in a zero helicity state and predict the existence of charge inhomogeneities that cross the interface at constant rate. There is mass and thickness anisotropies between the two sides of the interface.