Dissipationless Circulating Currents and Fringe Magnetic Fields Near a Single Spin Embedded in a Two-Dimensional Electron Gas

Abstract

Theoretical calculations predict the dissipationless circulating current induced by a spin defect in a two-dimensional electron gas with spin-orbit coupling. The shape and spatial extent of these dissipationless circulating currents depend dramatically on the relative strengths of spin-orbit fields with differing spatial symmetry, offering the potential to use an electric gate to manipulate nanoscale magnetic fields and couple magnetic defects. The spatial structure of the magnetic field produced by this current is calculated and provides a direct way to measure the spin-orbit fields of the host, as well as the defect spin orientation, \textit{e.g.} through scanning nanoscale magnetometry.