Phase diagrams of voltage-gated oxide interfaces with strong Rashba coupling

We propose a model for the two-dimensional electron gas formed at the interface of oxide heterostructures that includes a Rashba spin-orbit coupling proportional to an electric field oriented perpendicularly to the interface. Taking into account the electron density dependence of this electric field confining the electron gas at the interface, we report the occurrence of a phase separation instability (signaled by a negative compressibility) for realistic values of the spin-orbit coupling and of the electronic band-structure parameters at zero temperature. We extend the analysis to finite temperatures and in the presence of an in-plane magnetic field, thereby obtaining two phase diagrams that exhibit a phase separation dome. By varying the gating potential, the phase separation dome may shrink and vanish at zero temperature into a quantum critical point where the charge fluctuates dynamically. Similarly, the phase separation may be spoiled by a planar magnetic field even at zero temperature leading to a line of quantum critical points. © 2014 American Physical Society.