Adiabatic approximation for a uniform DC electric field

Abstract

In this work, we show that the disorder-free Kubo formula for the non-equilibrium value of an observable due to a DC electric field, represented by $E_x\hat{x}$ in the Hamiltonian, can be interpreted as the standard time-independent theory response of the observable due to a time- and position-\textit{independent} perturbation $H_{MF}$. We derive the explicit expression for $H_{MF}$ and show that it originates from the adiabatic approximation to $\langle k|E_x\hat{x}$ in which transitions between the different eigenspinor states of a system are forbidden. The expression for $H_{MF}$ is generalized beyond the real spin degree of freedom to include other spin-like discrete degrees of freedom (e.g. valley and pseudospin). By direct comparison between Kubo formula and the time-independent perturbation theory, as well as the Sundaram-Niu wavepacket formalism, we show that $H_{MF}$ reproduces the effect of the E-field, i.e. $E_x\hat{x}$, up to the first order. This replacement suggests the emergence of a new spin current term that is not captured by the standard Kubo formula spin current calculation. We illustrate this via the exemplary spin current for the heavy hole spin 3/2 Luttinger system. Finally, we apply the formalism and derive an analogous $H_{MF}$ for the effects of a weakly position-dependent coupling to the spin-like internal degrees of freedom. This gives rise to an anomalous velocity as well as spin accumulation terms in spin$\otimes$pseudospin space in addition to those contained explicitly in the unperturbed Hamiltonian.