Quantum correlations of a two-dimensional electron gas with Rashba spin-orbit coupling

Abstract

We study the correlations of a two-dimensional electron gas with Rashba spin-orbit coupling (SOC). We obtain the two-particle density matrix and use it to derive the exchange hole. We find a nontrivial correlation for electrons with opposite spin projections that does not occur without Rashba SOC. The two-particle density matrix allows us to further study the quantum correlations of the system. We use it to obtain the concurrence and the entanglement of formation in order to quantify the entanglement of the electron spins. Additionally, we calculate the quantum discord and compare it with the entanglement and classical correlations.