Resonant skew scattering of plasmons

The electron skew scattering by impurities is one of the major mechanisms causing the anomalous Hall effects in semiconductor nanostructures. In this Letter, we argue that in plasmonic setups the skew scattering of plasma waves can be engineered to be giant and observed directly via near-field probes.

In particular, we consider the scattering of plasma waves in gated two-dimensional electron gas at the non-uniform magnetic field created by the adjacent circular ferromagnetic gate. The calculated scattering amplitude not only has a large asymmetry, or skewness, but has a resonant behavior.

We identify that the resonance is due to the presence of a single chiral edge mode circulating the ferromagnetic gate. We also identify mathematical connections with electron scattering in topological insulators at magnetic impurities. The micrometer scale of the proposed setup allows probes into individual skew scattering events that have previously been inaccessible in electronic systems.

About the presenter

Dmitry Efimkin is a Scientific Research Associate at Monash University. He is interested in condensation of spatially separated electrons and holes and manifestations including dipolar superfluidity, as part of FLEET’s Research Theme 2, Exciton Superfluids.