Rashba spin splitting in two-dimensional electron and hole systems

In two-dimensional (2D) hole systems the inversion asymmetry induced spin splitting differs remarkably from its familiar counterpart in the conduction band. While the so-called Rashba spin splitting of electron states increases linearly with in-plane wave vector k_, the spin splitting of heavy-hole states can be of third order in k_ so that spin splitting becomes negligible in the limit of small 2D hole densities. We discuss consequences of this behavior in the context of recent arguments on the origin of the metal-insulator transition observed in 2D systems.