Article: Spin pumping with quantum dots Journal: International Journal of Nanotechnology (IJNT) 2007 Vol.4 No.5 pp.482 - 495 Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to discuss how lateral semiconductor quantum dots can be used as pumps to produce spin polarised currents, by exploring quantum phase coherence phenomena. Electronic transport in phase coherent or mesoscopic systems has been intensively studied for more than three decades. While there is a substantial understanding of the stationary regime, much less is known about phase-coherent non-equilibrium transport when pulses or ac perturbations are used to drive electrons at low temperatures and at small length scales. However, about 20 years ago Thouless proposed to drive non-dissipative currents in quantum systems by applying simultaneously two phase-locked external perturbations. The so-called adiabatic pumping mechanism has been revived in the last few years, both theoretically and experimentally, in part because of the development of lateral semiconductor quantum dots. Here we show how open dots can be used to create spin-polarised currents with little or no net charge transfer. The pure spin pump we propose is the analog of a charge battery in conventional electronics and may provide a needed circuit element for spin-based electronics. We also briefly discuss other relevant issues such as rectification and decoherence and point out possible extensions of the pumping mechanism to closed quantum dots. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Spin pumping with quantum dots

Authors: E.R. Mucciolo, C.H. Lewenkopf

Addresses: Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 162385, Orlando, FL 32816-2385, USA. ' Departmento de Fisica Teorica, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Sao Francisco Xavier 524, Rio de Janeiro 20550-900, Brazil

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to discuss how lateral semiconductor quantum dots can be used as pumps to produce spin polarised currents, by exploring quantum phase coherence phenomena. Electronic transport in phase coherent or mesoscopic systems has been intensively studied for more than three decades. While there is a substantial understanding of the stationary regime, much less is known about phase-coherent non-equilibrium transport when pulses or ac perturbations are used to drive electrons at low temperatures and at small length scales. However, about 20 years ago Thouless proposed to drive non-dissipative currents in quantum systems by applying simultaneously two phase-locked external perturbations. The so-called adiabatic pumping mechanism has been revived in the last few years, both theoretically and experimentally, in part because of the development of lateral semiconductor quantum dots. Here we show how open dots can be used to create spin-polarised currents with little or no net charge transfer. The pure spin pump we propose is the analog of a charge battery in conventional electronics and may provide a needed circuit element for spin-based electronics. We also briefly discuss other relevant issues such as rectification and decoherence and point out possible extensions of the pumping mechanism to closed quantum dots.

Keywords: nanodevices; quantum dots; spintronics; spin pumping; spin currents; nanotechnology; semiconductors; spin polarised currents; quantum phase coherence; pumps; spin-based electronics; rectification; decoherence.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2007.014746

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2007 Vol.4 No.5, pp.482 - 495

Published online: 06 Aug 2007 *

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Title: Spin pumping with quantum dots

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