Effect of intrinsic spin relaxation on the spin-dependent cotunneling transport through quantum dots

Abstract

Spin-polarized transport through quantum dots is analyzed theoretically in the cotunneling regime. It is shown that the zero-bias anomaly, found recently in the antiparallel configuration, can also exist in the case when one electrode is magnetic while the other one is nonmagnetic. Physical mechanism of the anomaly is also discussed. It is demonstrated that intrinsic spin relaxation in the dot has a significant influence on the zero-bias maximum in the differential conductance -- the anomaly becomes enhanced by weak spin-flip scattering in the dot and then disappears in the limit of fast spin relaxation. Apart from this, inverse tunnel magnetoresistance has been found in the limit of fast intrinsic spin relaxation in the dot. The diode-like behavior of transport characteristics in the cotunneling regime has been found in the case of quantum dots asymmetrically coupled to the leads. This behavior may be enhanced by the spin-flip relaxation processes.

arXiv comment10 pages, 6 figures

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• Cotunneling through quantum dots coupled to magnetic leads: zero-bias anomaly for non-collinear magnetic configurations
• Electrically controlled quantum dot based spin current injector
• Saturation of Spin-Polarized Current in Nanometer Scale Aluminum Grains
• Spin-polarized transport through weakly coupled double quantum dots in the Coulomb-blockade regime
• Controlling spin polarization of a quantum dot via a helical edge state
• Coulomb-Blocked Transport Through a Quantum Dot with Spin-Split Level: Increase of Differential Conductance Peaks by Spin Relaxation
• The tunnel magnetoresistance in chains of quantum dots weakly coupled to external leads
• Intrinsic spin-relaxation induced negative tunnel magnetoresistance in a single-molecule magnet
• Manipulating spins of magnetic molecules: Hysteretic behavior with respect to bias voltage
• The influence of spin-flip scattering on the preparation and detection of a single spin state in a quantum dot attached to a spin battery
• A quantitative study of spin-flip co-tunneling transport in a quantum dot
• Influence of spin-flip on the performance of the spin-diode
• Revealing the internal spin dynamics in a double quantum dot by periodic voltage modulation