Exchange-enhanced spin-splitting in a two-dimensional electron gas in the presence of the Rashba spin–orbit interaction

We present a theoretical study on how many-body effects can affect the spin-splitting of a two-dimensional electron gas in the presence of the Rashba spin–orbit interaction. The standard Hartree–Fock approximation and Greenʹs function approach are employed to calculate the energy spectrum and density of states of a spin-split two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). We find that the presence of the exchange interaction can enhance significantly the spin-splitting of a 2DEG on top of the Rashba effect. The physical reasons behind this important phenomenon are discussed.