Weak anti-localization in spin-orbit coupled lattice systems: effect of non-adiabatic transitions and estimation of spin relaxation length

Abstract: This study investigates the quantum correction effect on electrical conductivity using a two-dimensional Wolff Hamiltonian, which is an effective model of the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) lattice system. The non-adiabatic transition processes in impurity scattering suppress the weak anti-localization (WAL) effect. The WAL effect in the SOC lattice system strongly depends on the spin relaxation length when compared with the Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka (HLN) theory. The spin relaxation length in Bi thin film is discussed.