Spin Transistor Action from Hidden Onsager Reciprocity

İ. Adagideli, V. Lutsker, M. Scheid, Ph. Jacquod, and K. Richter
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 236601 – Published 8 June 2012

Abstract

We investigate generic Hamiltonians for confined electrons with weak inhomogeneous spin-orbit coupling. Using a local gauge transformation we show how the SU(2) Hamiltonian structure reduces to a U(1)×U(1) structure for spinless fermions in a fictitious orbital magnetic field, to leading order in the spin-orbit strength. Using an Onsager relation, we further show how the resulting spin conductance vanishes in a two-terminal setup, and how it is turned on by either weakly breaking time-reversal symmetry or opening additional transport terminals, thus allowing one to switch the generated spin current on or off. We numerically check our theory for mesoscopic cavities as well as Aharonov-Bohm rings.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 30 December 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.236601

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

İ. Adagideli1, V. Lutsker2, M. Scheid2, Ph. Jacquod3,4, and K. Richter2

  • 1Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orhanli-Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey
  • 2Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
  • 3Physics Department and College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
  • 4Theoretical Physics Department, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 108, Iss. 23 — 8 June 2012

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×