Thermally induced spin polarization in a magnetized two-dimensional electron gas with Rashba spin-orbit interaction

The spin polarization induced by a temperature gradient (heat current) in a magnetized two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) with a Rashba spin-orbit interaction is considered theoretically within the linear response theory. Using the Matsubara Green's function formalism, we calculate the temperature dependence of the spin polarization for arbitrary orientation of the exchange field. The limit of a nonmagnetic 2DEG (zero exchange field) is also considered. Role of vertex corrections is investigated, and physical mechanisms of the spin polarization emergence are discussed. For a magnetic system, we identify a term in the spin polarization that stems from the Berry curvature of the corresponding electronic bands.