Finite-frequency response of Rasba electron gas with two-particle scattering

Abstract: Two-dimensional systems with Rashba spin-orbit coupling are not Galilean invariant and therefore electron--electron collisions in them may affect the current. However when taken alone, they cannot ensure a nonzero dc resistivity, so their effects are masked by impurity scattering. Here we calculate the related finite-frequency response and show that the electron--electron scattering in clean Rashba conductors decreases the Drude weight while resulting in a finite dissipative component of the response outside of the Drude peak.