Anomalous-circular photogalvanic effect in a GaAs/AlGaAs two-dimensional electron gas.

We have studied the circular photogalvanic effect (CPGE) in a GaAs/AlGaAs two-dimensional electron gas excited by near infrared light at room temperature. The anomalous CPGE observed under normal incidence indicates a swirling current which is realized by a radial spin current via the reciprocal spin-Hall effect. The anomalous CPGE exhibits a cubic cosine dependence on the incidence angle, which is discussed in line with the above interpretation.