Effect of spin-orbit interaction on circular current: Pure spin current phenomena within a ring conductor

Abstract

A net circulating current may appear within a quantum ring under finite bias. We study the characteristic features of the circular current in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit interaction (RSOI). Both charge and spin currents appear within the ring. Whereas when the ring is symmetrically connected to the external leads, we can get a pure charge current at non-zero Fermi-energy. On the other hand, for asymmetric ring-to-leads configuration, at zero Fermi-energy, the spin current vanishes but a pure charge current flows within the ring. Tuning RSOI, we demonstrate a way to control the pure spin current externally. This new perspective of the generation of the pure spin circular current can open a new basis for the highly efficient, low energy cost spintronic devices.