Abstract
We have proposed that quantum point contacts (QPCs) can be a useful tool for producing spin-polarized currents in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit (SO) interaction [J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 74, 1934 (2005)]. No magnetic field is required. When the conductance through a QPC is quantized in units of 2e2/h, the current is spin-polarized in the transverse direction. This spin polarization, which can be larger than 50% in InGaAs heterostructures, is elucidated using the S-matrix formalism. We also examine transport properties of a QPC connected to a ferromagnetic lead and show how to detect the spin-polarized current from the QPC.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 557-559 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Physica Status Solidi (C) Current Topics in Solid State Physics |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2007 Dec 1 |
Event | International Conference on Superlattices, Nano-structures and Nano-devices, ICSNN-2006 - Istanbul, Turkey Duration: 2006 Jul 30 → 2006 Aug 4 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics