Rashba effect

The Rashba effect is a quantum phenomenon where electrons in certain materials experience a splitting of their energy levels due to strong spin-orbit interaction combined with structural asymmetry. Essentially, when electrons move in a material lacking inversion symmetry—like at a surface or interface—an internal electric field influences their spins, causing their energy states to split based on their spin direction. This effect enables control over electron spin using electric fields, which is valuable for developing advanced electronic and spintronic devices that manipulate electronic spin for information processing.