Semiclassical theory of spin-orbit interactions using spin coherent states

We formulate a semiclassical theory for systems with spin-orbit interactions. Using spin coherent states, we start from the path integral in an extended phase space, formulate the classical dynamics of the coupled orbital and spin degrees of freedom, and calculate the ingredients of Gutzwiller'...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 89; no. 11; p. 116601
Main Authors Pletyukhov, M, Amann, Ch, Mehta, M, Brack, M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 09.09.2002
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Summary:We formulate a semiclassical theory for systems with spin-orbit interactions. Using spin coherent states, we start from the path integral in an extended phase space, formulate the classical dynamics of the coupled orbital and spin degrees of freedom, and calculate the ingredients of Gutzwiller's trace formula for the density of states. For a two-dimensional quantum dot with a spin-orbit interaction of Rashba type, we obtain satisfactory agreement with fully quantum-mechanical calculations. The mode-conversion problem, which arose in an earlier semiclassical approach, has hereby been overcome.
ISSN:0031-9007
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.116601