We investigate the Aharonov-Casher effect in a mesoscopic ring in the presence of a cylindrically symmetric electric field. The Aharonov-Casher phase is obtained as a function of the tilt angle of the applied electric field. The exact energy spectrum of the system is obtained by using a gauge transformation. We demonstrate the persistent spin current induced by the Aharonov-Casher effect at finite temperature.

• Received 15 July 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.51.13441