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Abstract: We propose a unified semiclassical description for the kinetic magnetoelectric effect in both k-linear and k-cubic two-dimensional Rashba model in the thermodynamic limit, which takes into account the effects of both spin coherence and spin dephasing by a closed set of Boltzman-like kinetic equations. Based on this unified description, we show that in contrary to the case found in the studies of intrinsic spin Hall effect in such systems, in the linear response regime the kinetic magnetoelectric effect would vanish for the k-cubic Rashba model in the thermodynamic limit but be robust for the k-linear Rashba model in the thermodynamic limit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Based on a self-consistent semiclassical approach, in this Letter we try to contribute to the basic physical understanding of some controversial issues about the intrinsic spin Hall effect in a Rashba two-dimensional electron gas. We show that for a Rashba two-dimensional electron gas in the diffusive transport thermodynamic limit, there exist some simple but much clear physical reasons which explain naturally why the intrinsic spin Hall effect in such a system cannot survive in the dc limit. The physical pictures established in this Letter resolve some puzzles existed in some previous theoretical treatments about this extraordinary effect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]