Spin filter using a semiconductor quantum ring side-coupled to a quantum wire

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel spin filter device utilizing spin-resolved Fano resonances in a quantum ring side-coupled to a quantum wire, enhanced by Coulomb interactions and operable at low temperatures.

Contribution

It introduces a new spin filter design based on quantum rings with spin-orbit coupling and magnetic fields, demonstrating improved performance through Coulomb interactions.

Findings

Coulomb interaction widens conductance dips for different spins.

The spin filter maintains effectiveness below a certain temperature threshold.

The device offers advantages over existing spin filtering technologies.

Abstract

We introduce a new spin filter based on spin-resolved Fano resonances due to spin-split levels in a quantum ring (QR) side-coupled to a quantum wire (QW). Spin-orbit coupling inside the QR, together with external magnetic fields, induces spin splitting, and the Fano resonances due to the spin-split levels result in perfect or considerable suppression of the transport of either spin direction. Using the numerical renormalization group method, we find that the Coulomb interaction in the QR enhances the spin filter operation by widening the separation between dips in conductances for different spins and by allowing perfect blocking for one spin direction and perfect transmission for the other. The spin-filter effect persists as long as the temperature is less than the broadening of QR levels due to the QW-QR coupling. We discuss realistic conditions for the QR-based spin filter and its advantages to other similar devices.