Anisotropy of the spin-orbit coupling driven by a magnetic field in InAs nanowires

Abstract: We use the $\mathbf{k} \cdot \mathbf{p}$ theory and the envelope function approach to evaluate the Rashba spin-orbit coupling induced in a semiconductor nanowire by a magnetic field at different orientations, taking explicitely into account the prismatic symmetry of typical nano-crystals. We make the case for the strongly spin-orbit-coupled InAs semiconductor nanowires and investigate the anisotropy of the spin-orbit constant with respect to the field direction. At sufficiently high magnetic fields perpendicular to the nanowire, a 6-fold anisotropy results from the interplay between the orbital effect of field and the prismatic symmetry of the nanowire. A back-gate potential, breaking the native symmetry of the nano-crystal, couples to the magnetic field inducing a 2-fold anisotropy, with the spin-orbit coupling being maximized or minimized depending on the relative orientation of the two fields. We also investigate in-wire field configurations, which shows a trivial 2-fold symmetry when the field is rotated off the axis. However, isotropic spin-orbit coupling is restored if a sufficiently high gate potential is applied. Our calculations are shown to agree with recent experimental analysis of the vectorial character of the spin-orbit coupling for the same nanomaterial, providing a microscopic interpretation of the latter.