Dresden 2003 – scientific programme

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SYHN: Hybrid nanostructures

SYHN 1: Hybrid Nanostructures

SYHN 1.3: Invited Talk

Thursday, March 27, 2003, 10:50–11:15, HSZ/01

Spin-dependent transport in nanostructures with Rashba spin splitting — •Ulrich Zülicke — Institut für Theoretische Festkörperphysik, Universität Karlsruhe, 76128 Karlsruhe

Electrons confined in two-dimensional quantum wells are subject to the externally tunable Rashba spin–orbit coupling that is due to structural inversion asymmetry. As a result, electrons in one–body eigenstates have their spin quantized in the direction perpendicular to both their plane–wave propagation direction and the growth direction for the heterostructure. Further restriction of electronic motion, e.g. to a quantum wire, leads to interesting spin–dependent transport effects. As an example of that, we discuss how the tunneling current between parallel quantum wires is separated into spin–polarized components without magnetic contacts or external magnetic fields present. Furthermore, we show how a spin accumulation arises in quantum wires with strong Rashba spin–orbit coupling, again in the absence of magnetic contacts. Consequences for transport properties and Luttinger–liquid behavior will be addressed. Finally, we consider possibilities to observe these effects in systems where charge carriers are holes.