Persistent spin and charge currents in an Aharonov–Casher conducting ring

•We investigate the persistent spin and charge currents within an open mesoscopic ring.•The persistent spin and charge currents are obtained analytically.•The persistent charge current will change its direction with different spin electron injections.•The persistent spin current remains in the same direction with different spin electron injections.

We investigate the persistent spin and charge currents within an open mesoscopic ring embedded in a textured electric field. The persistent spin and charge currents are obtained analytically, and can be controlled by the electric field. Since the spin-up (down) electron can feel the different transverse spin forces generated by the spin–orbit coupling, the spin-up (down) electron will travel clockwise (anticlockwise) along the ring. As a result, the persistent charge current will change its direction within the ring according to different spin state electron injections, whilst the persistent spin current remains in the same direction. A pure persistent spin current, without any accompanying charge current, can be produced by tuning the strength and/or the angle of the textured electric field.