Rashba spin-orbit coupling and quantum-interference effect for a pair of spin-correlated electrons in their tunneling and reflection under a step potential

Abstract

We present both theory and numerical-computation results for the transmission and reflection probability currents of a charged particle across a potential step in the presence of a Rashba spin-orbit interaction. By varying kinetic energy and angle of incident electrons or barrier height, different features associated with tunneling and reflection of electrons are revealed by inter-spin-channel electron tunnelings and reflections. These unique properties are further accompanied by spin-state quantum interference of either a reflected or transmitted pairs of spin-correlated electrons with the same kinetic energy but in different spin-orbital states. Such distinctive features are expected to give rise to a lot of applications in both spintronics and quantum-computation devices.