Spin current in a two-terminal quantum ring

Abstract

The photo-induced direct current in a system consisting of a one-dimensional Rashba ring with conductors connected to it is calculated. The current is produced under the action of circularly polarized radiation incident on the ring in the presence of Rashba spin—orbit coupling. The charge and spin currents in conductors are expressed in terms of the coefficients of the electron transmission through the ring with inelastic interaction with radiation taken into account. It is shown that the spin current is a complex function of the magnetic flux through the ring, of the radiation frequency, and the spin—orbit coupling constant.