Magnetic scattering with spin-momentum locking: Single scatterers and diffraction grating

Abstract

Simultaneous manipulation of charge and spin density distributions in materials is the key element required in spintronics applications. Here we study the formation of coupled spin and charge densities arising in scattering of electrons by domains of local magnetization producing a position-dependent Zeeman field in the presence of the spin-momentum locking typical for topological insulators. Analytically and numerically calculated scattering pattern is determined by the electron energy, domain magnetization, and size. The spin-momentum locking produces strong differences with respect to the spin-diagonal scattering and leads to the scattering asymmetry with a nonzero mean scattering angle as determined by only two parameters characterizing the system. To extend the variety of possible patterns, we study scattering by diffraction gratings and propose to design them in modern nanostructures based on topological insulators to produce desired distributions of the charge and spin densities. These results can be useful for engineering of magnetic patterns for electron optics to control coupled charge and spin evolution.