Orbital and Spin Edelstein Effects in KTaO <sub>3</sub> (110) Two‐Dimensional Electron Gases
ABSTRACT The orbital Edelstein effect converts an electric field into a non‐equilibrium orbital polarization, opening new opportunities for orbitronics. Although signatures of the orbital Edelstein effect have been reported, its microscopic mechanisms and quantitative validation remain underexplored. Here, by directly linking the atomic structure of (110) two‐dimensional electron gases to both their calculated and measured electronic band dispersions, we predict and provide experimental evidence for a significant orbital Edelstein contribution that governs the anisotropy of its harmonic transport response. Scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy‐loss spectroscopy resolve the interfacial atomic configuration, which is used as input for density‐functional calculations. Angle‐resolved photoemission spectroscopy then confirms the resulting band structure, which is fitted by a tight‐binding model enabling computation of the spin and orbital Edelstein responses. Harmonic magnetotransport measurements reveal an anisotropic response that cannot be accounted for within a purely spin Edelstein framework, and is quantitatively reproduced by including an orbital contribution of order 20%. Our results establish (110) as a model platform for orbitronics and demonstrate a pathway to generate and harness orbital polarization in quantum oxide systems while also offering new insights into pairing mechanisms in their superconducting state.
Authors
- Ingrid Mertig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8488-0997)
- Aravind Raji (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7643-2358)
- Börge Göbel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4050-6869)
- N. Bergeal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9016-5305)
- Alexandre Gloter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4813-3799)
- F. Bertran (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2416-0514)
- Raphaël Salazar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8240-5914)
- Srijani Mallik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1679-9550)
- Hugo Witt
- Isabella Boventer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9332-7840)
- Sara Varotto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0171-3745)
- Julien Bréhin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1478-8260)
- Patrick Le Fèvre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9800-8059)
- Annika Johansson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5453-6693)
- A. Barthélémy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7515-0888)
- Julien Rault
- Luis M. Vicente-Arche
- Manuel Bibes
- Gerbold Ménard
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (IN)
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (IN)
- Université Paris Cité (FR)
- Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Laboratoire de physique des Solides (FR)
- Synchrotron soleil (FR)
- École Normale Supérieure - PSL (FR)
- CEA Grenoble (FR)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- Laboratoire de Physique et d’Étude des Matériaux (FR)
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics (DE)
- Sorbonne Paris Cité (FR)
- Halle Zoo (DE)
- École Normale Supérieure (BI)
- Institut de Physique de Rennes (FR)
- Laboratoire Albert Fert (FR)
- Spintronique et Technologie des Composants (FR)
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (DE)
- Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
- University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (CZ)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Materials
- Published
- 2026-07-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.73899
- Primary Topic
- Electronic and Structural Properties of Oxides
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- European Research Council
- HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Council