Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spin-filtering and charge- and spin-switching effects in a quantum wire with periodically attached stubs

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
The European Physical Journal B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Spin-dependent electron transport in a periodically stubbed quantum wire in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit interaction (SOI) is studied via the nonequilibrium Green’s function (GF) method combined with the Landauer-Büttiker formalism. By comparing with a straight Rashba quantum wire, the magnitude of spin conductance can be enhanced obviously. In addition, the charge and spin switching can also be found in the considered system. The mechanism of these transport properties is revealed by analyzing the total charge density and spin-polarized density distributions in the stubbed quantum wire. Furthermore, periodic spin-density islands with high polarization are also found inside the stubs, owing to the interaction between the charge density islands and the Rashba SOI-induced effective magnetic field. These interesting findings may be useful in further understanding of the transport properties of low-dimensional systems and in devising an all-electrical multifunctional spintronic device based on the proposed structure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. I. Žutić, J. Fabian, S.D. Sarma, Rev. Mod. Phys. 76, 323 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. E.I. Rashba, Sov. Phys. Solid State 2, 1109 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Y.A. Bychkov, E.I. Rashba, J. Phys. C 17, 6039 (1984)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. E.Ya. Sherman, Phys. Rev. B 67, 161303(R) (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. L.E. Golub, E.L. Ivchenko, Phys. Rev. B 69, 115333 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. J. Nitta, T. Akazaki, H. Takayanagi, T. Enoki, Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 1335 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. D. Grundler, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 6074 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. L. Saminadayar, C. Bäuerle, D. Mailly, Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (American Scientific, Valencia, 2004)

  9. M. Büttiker, IBM J. Res. Dev. 32, 317 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. T. Taniguchi, M. Büttiker, Phys. Rev. B 60, 13814 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Z.Y. Zhang, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 19, 016209 (2007)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. F. Zhai, H.Q. Xu, Phys. Rev. B 76, 035306 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Y. Ban, E.Ya. Sherman, Appl. Phys. Lett. 99, 112101 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. X.B. Xiao, F. Li, Y.G. Chen, N.H. Liu, Eur. Phys. J. B 85, 112 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. F. Zhai, K. Chang, H.Q. Xu, Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 102111 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. X.B. Xiao, Y.G. Chen, Europhys. Lett. 90, 47004 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. T. Jonckheere, G.I. Japaridze, T. Martin, R. Hayn, Phys. Rev. B 81, 165443 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. X.F. Wang, P. Vasilopoulos, F.M. Peeters, Phys. Rev. B 65, 165217 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. X.F. Wang, P. Vasilopoulos, Phys. Rev. B 68, 035305 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. X.F. Wang, Phys. Rev. B 69, 035302 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. L.B. Zhang, P. Brusheim, H.Q. Xu, Phys. Rev. B 72, 045347 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. S.J. Gong, Z.Q. Yang, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 19, 446209 (2007)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. L. Wang, K. Shen, S.Y. Cho, M.W. Wu, J. Appl. Phys. 104, 123709 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. G.I. Japaridze, H. Johannesson, A. Ferraz, Phys. Rev. B 80, 041308(R) (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. M. Malard, I. Grusha, G.I. Japaridze, H. Johannesson, Phys. Rev. B 84, 075466 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. G. Thorgilsson, J. Carlos Egues, D. Loss, S.I. Erlingsson, Phys. Rev. B 85, 045306 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. L.G. Wang, K. Chang, Solid State Commun. 137, 260 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. L.G. Wang, K. Chang, K.S. Chan, J. Appl. Phys. 99, 043701 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. S.J. Gong, Z.Q. Yang, J. Appl. Phys. 102, 033706 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. J.L. Cardoso, P. Pereyra, Europhys. Lett. 83, 38001 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. T. Ando, Phys. Rev. B 44, 8017 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. M. Büttiker, Phys. Rev. Lett. 57, 1761 (1986)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. T.P. Pareek, P. Bruno, Phys. Rev. B 63, 165424 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. P. Brusheim, H.Q. Xu, Phys. Rev. B 74, 205307 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. K.B. Nikolić, S. Souma, Phys. Rev. B 71, 195328 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. D. Sánchez, L. Serra, Phys. Rev. B 74, 153313 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. F. Zhai, H.Q. Xu, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 246601 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. K. Nikolić, R. Šordan, Phys. Rev. B 58, 6555 (1998)

  39. M. Knop, M. Richter, R. Mabann, U. Wieser, U. Kunze, D. Reuter, C. Riedesel, A.D. Wieck, Semicond. Sci. Technol. 20, 814 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. J. Luo, H. Munekata, F.F. Fang, P.J. Stiles, Phys. Rev. B 41, 7685 (1990)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. T. Hassenkam, S. Pedersen, K. Baklanov, A. Kristensen, C.B. Sorensen, P.E. Lindelof, F.G. Pikus, G.E. Pikus, Phys. Rev. B 55, 9298 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. M. Schultz, F. Heinrichs, U. Merkt, T. Colin, T. Skauli, S. Løvold, Semicond. Sci. Technol. 11, 1168 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. G. Engels, J. Lange, T. Schäpers, H. Lüth, Phys. Rev. B 55, R1958 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. R.J. Young, S.J. Dewhurst, R.M. Stevenson, P. Atkinson, A.J. Bennett, M.B. Ward, K. Cooper, D.A. Ritchie, A.J. Shields, New J. Phys. 9, 365 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. D. Heiss, V. Jovanov, M. Bichler, G. Abstreiter, J.J. Finley, Phys. Rev. B 77, 235442 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. T. Otsuka, E. Abe, Y. Iye, S. Katsumoto, Phys. Rev. B 79, 195313 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. T. Otsuka, Y. Sugihara, J. Yoneda, S. Katsumoto, S. Tarucha, Phys. Rev. B 86, 081308(R) (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computer, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, P.R. China

    X. B. Xiao, H. L. Li, W. J. Nie & C. Q. Zhang

  2. School of Mechatronics & Engineering, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang, 330013, P.R. China

    Z. X. Chen

  3. School of Basic Science, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang, 330013, P.R. China

    Z. F. Liu

  4. Department of Physics and Key Laboratory for Low-Dimensional Quantum Structures and Manipulation (Ministry of Education), Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, P.R. China

    G. H. Zhou

Authors
  1. X. B. Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Z. X. Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Z. F. Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. L. Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. W. J. Nie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. C. Q. Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. G. H. Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to X. B. Xiao or G. H. Zhou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xiao, X.B., Chen, Z.X., Liu, Z.F. et al. Spin-filtering and charge- and spin-switching effects in a quantum wire with periodically attached stubs. Eur. Phys. J. B 87, 6 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2013-40963-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2013-40963-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation