  There is steadily increasing evidence that the two-dimensional electron gas
(2DEG) formed at the interface of some insulating oxides like LaAlO3/SrTiO3 and
LaTiO3/SrTiO3 is strongly inhomogeneous. The inhomogeneous distribution of
electron density is accompanied by an inhomogeneous distribution of the
(self-consistent) electric field confining the electrons at the interface. In
turn this inhomogeneous transverse electric field induces an inhomogeneous
Rashba spin-orbit coupling (RSOC). After an introductory summary on two
mechanisms possibly giving rise to an electronic phase separation accounting
for the above inhomogeneity,we introduce a phenomenological model to describe
the density-dependent RSOC and its consequences. Besides being itself a
possible source of inhomogeneity or charge-density waves, the density-dependent
RSOC gives rise to interesting physical effects like the occurrence of
inhomogeneous spin-current distributions and inhomogeneous quantum-Hall states
with chiral "edge" states taking place in the bulk of the 2DEG. The
inhomogeneous RSOC can also be exploited for spintronic devices since it can be
used to produce a disorder-robust spin Hall effect.
