Spin filters with Fano dots

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how a side quantum dot with Coulomb interaction affects electron conductance in a ballistic channel, revealing Fano interference effects and potential for perfect spin filtering.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of conductance dips caused by Fano interference and demonstrates a mechanism for spin filtering using magnetic fields in quantum dots.

Findings

Coulomb blockade dips appear in conductance instead of peaks.

Kondo effect creates broad valleys of low conductance for odd electron numbers.

Magnetic field induces spin-dependent conductance suppression, enabling spin filtering.

Abstract

We compute the zero bias conductance of electrons through a single ballistic channel weakly coupled to a side quantum dot with Coulomb interaction. In contrast to the standard setup which is designed to measure the transport through the dot, the channel conductance reveals Coulomb blockade dips rather then peaks due to the Fano-like backscattering. At zero temperature the Kondo effect leads to the formation of broad valleys of small conductance corresponding to an odd number of electrons on the dot. By applying a magnetic field in the dot region we find two dips corresponding to a total suppression in the conductance of spins up and down separated by an energy of the order of the Coulomb interaction. This provides a possibility of a perfect spin filter.