Spin transmission control in helical magnetic fields

Abstract

We calculate spin transport in two-dimensional waveguides in the presence of spatially modulated Zeeman-split energy bands. We show that in a regime where the spin evolution is predominantly adiabatic the spin backscattering rate can be tuned via diabatic Landau-Zener transitions between the spin-split bands [C. Betthausen et. al., Science 337, 324 (2012)]. This mechanism is tolerant against spin-independent scattering processes. Completely spin-polarized systems show full spin backscattering, and thus current switching. In partially spin-polarized systems a spatial sequence of Landau-Zener transition points enhances the resistance modulation via reoccupation of backscattered spin-polarized transport modes. We discuss a possible application as a spin transistor.

Theory related to the adiabatic spin transistor concept (C. Betthausen et al., Science 337, 324 (2012), DOI: 10.1126/science.1221350)

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Cited by in corpus (7)

• Persistent Spin Textures in Semiconductor Nanostructures
• Numerical simulations of quantum clock for measuring tunneling times
• Spin filter for arbitrary spins by substrate engineering
• Resonant Landau-Zener transitions in helical magnetic fields
• Landau-Zener and Rabi oscillations in the spin-dependent conductance
• Electrically controlled spin-transistor operation in helical magnetic field
• Formal Integration of Electron Scattering Processes via Separation of Dynamical and Geometric Contributions