Kondo effect in a two-dimensional electron gas in the persistent spin helix regime
Phys. Rev. B 112, 115157 – Published 29 September, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/cm2n-y4c3
Abstract
The Kondo effect arises from many-body interactions between localized magnetic impurities and conduction electrons, affecting electronic properties at low temperatures. In this study, we investigate the Kondo effect within a two-dimensional electron gas subjected to strong spin-orbit coupling in and out of the persistent spin helix regime, a state characterized by a long spin lifetime due to SU(2) symmetry recovery. Using the numerical renormalization group approach, we systematically analyze the influence of spin-orbit coupling strength and the orientation of an external magnetic field on the spectral properties of the impurity. Our findings reveal an intriguing interplay between spin-orbit coupling and the magnetic field, leading to key phenomena such as splitting of the hybridization function, asymmetry in the spectral function of the impurity, and significant tunability of the Kondo temperature due to spin-orbit. These results provide valuable insights into the delicate balance between spin-orbit and external magnetic field effects in quantum impurity systems, contributing to a deeper understanding of spintronics and quantum manipulation in low-dimensional materials.
