Spin polarization induced by an electric field in the presence of weak localization effects

• We evaluate the quantum corrections to the Edelstein and spin Hall effects.
• The corrections to the spin Hall conductivity add up to zero as required by an exact identity.
• The corrections to the Edelstein conductivity are absorbed in the renormalized scattering time.

We evaluate the spin polarization (Edelstein or inverse spin galvanic effect) and the spin Hall current induced by an applied electric field by including the weak localization corrections for a two-dimensional electron gas. We show that the weak localization effects yield logarithmic corrections to both the spin polarization conductivity relating the spin polarization and the electric field and to the spin Hall angle relating the spin and charge currents. The renormalization of both the spin polarization conductivity and the spin Hall angle combine to produce a zero correction to the total spin Hall conductivity as required by an exact identity. Suggestions for the experimental observation of the effect are given.