An efficient computational approach to spin-dependent electron transport in two-dimensional waveguides with rather arbitrary geometry is presented, with necessary details about how to include the spin-orbit Rashba coupling and the so-called evanescent modes. The spin conductance properties are then examined for various waveguide geometries, with an emphasis placed on those waveguides for which the classical scattering is associated with chaotic and mixed phase space structures. Quantum conductance fluctuations, which is first observed in microwave waveguide experiments, are also studied, yielding an interesting observation called “spin conductance echo.” The results should be of general interest to studies in spintronics and to studies of quantum chaos in scattering problems.

• Received 20 December 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.77.205302