We analyze the effect of Rashba spin-orbit coupling and of a local tunnel barrier on the persistent spin and charge currents in a one-dimensional conducting Aharonov-Bohm ring symmetrically coupled to two leads. First, as an important consequence of the spin splitting, it is found that a persistent spin current can be induced, which is not simply proportional to the charge current. Second, a magnification effect of the persistent spin current is shown when one tunes the Fermi energy near the Fano-type antiresonances of the total transmission coefficient governed by the tunnel barrier strength. As an unambiguous signature of spin-orbit coupling, we also show the possibility to produce a persistent pure spin current at the interference zeros of the transmittance. This widens the possibilities of employing mesoscopic conducting rings in phase-coherent spintronics applications.

Persistent spin and charge currents and magnification effects in open ring conductors subject toRashba coupling

CITRO, Roberta;ROMEO, FRANCESCO
2007-01-01

Abstract

We analyze the effect of Rashba spin-orbit coupling and of a local tunnel barrier on the persistent spin and charge currents in a one-dimensional conducting Aharonov-Bohm ring symmetrically coupled to two leads. First, as an important consequence of the spin splitting, it is found that a persistent spin current can be induced, which is not simply proportional to the charge current. Second, a magnification effect of the persistent spin current is shown when one tunes the Fermi energy near the Fano-type antiresonances of the total transmission coefficient governed by the tunnel barrier strength. As an unambiguous signature of spin-orbit coupling, we also show the possibility to produce a persistent pure spin current at the interference zeros of the transmittance. This widens the possibilities of employing mesoscopic conducting rings in phase-coherent spintronics applications.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11386/1737274
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