Spintronics of a Nanoelectromechanical Shuttle

TL;DR

This paper explores how spin effects influence the mechanical vibrations and electron transport in a nanoelectromechanical single-electron transistor, showing magnetic control over shuttle instability and different operational regimes.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of spin-controlled electromechanical instability in a nanoelectromechanical SET with magnetic leads, revealing new regimes of shuttle vibrations.

Findings

Magnetic field can control shuttle instability in the device.

Multiple stable operational regimes are identified.

Two scenarios for the onset of vibrations are proposed.

Abstract

We consider effects of the spin degree of freedom on the nanomechanics of a single-electron transistor (SET) containing a nanometer-sized metallic cluster suspended between two magnetic leads. It is shown that in such a nanoelectromechanical SET(NEM-SET) the onset of an electromechanical instability leading to cluster vibrations and "shuttle" transport of electrons between the leads can be controlled by an external magnetic field. Different stable regimes of this spintronic NEM-SET operation are analyzed. Two different scenarios for the onset of shuttle vibrations are found.