Chaotic spin-dependent electron dynamics in a field-driven double dot potential

Abstract: We study the nonlinear classical dynamics of an electron confined in a double dot potential and subjected to a spin-orbit coupling and a constant external magnetic field. It is shown that due to the spin orbit coupling, the energy can be transferred from the spin to the orbital motion. This naturally heats up the orbital motion which, due to the presence of the separatrix line in the phase space of the system, results in a motion of the electron between the dots. It is shown that depending on the strength of the spin orbit coupling and the energy of the system, the electronic orbital motion undergoes a transition from the regular to the chaotic regime.