2006/12/21 by Orsolya Kálmán, Orsolya Kalman, Péter Földi +4 · 1 citation
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Semiconductor Quantum Structures and Devices #Semiconductor materials and devices #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.physe.2007.08.014
published as Physica E 40 (3), 567 (2008)
arxiv created 2006/12/21 · openalex publication_date 2007/08/28 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We present an exact, analytic solution of the spin dependent quantum transport problem with spin-orbit interaction in a one-dimensional mesoscopic ring with one input and two output leads. We demonstrate that for appropriate parameters spatial interference in the ring leads to a behavior analogous to that of the Stern-Gerlach apparatus: different spin polarizations can be achieved in the two output channels from an originally totally unpolarized incoming spin state. It is shown that this requires an appropriate interference of states that carry oppositely directed currents. We find that spin polarization is possible for several geometries, including the case when the device is not symmetric with respect to the incoming lead. A clear connection is established between the Stern-Gerlach like property of the device and the relevant Aharonov-Casher phases in the loop geometry.