Spin-flip scattering in the quantum Hall regime

Abstract

We present a microscopic theory of spin-orbit coupling in the integer quantum Hall regime. The spin-orbit scattering length is evaluated in the limit of long-range random potential. The spin-flip rate is shown to be determined by rare fluctuations of anomalously high electric field. A mechanism of strong spin-orbit scattering associated with exchange-induced spontaneous spin-polarization is suggested. Scaling of the spin-splitting of the delocalization transition with the strength of spin-orbit and exchange interactions is also discussed.