Cotunneling through a quantum dot coupled to ferromagnetic leads with noncollinear magnetizations

Spin-dependent electronic transport through a quantum dot has been analyzed theoretically in the cotunneling regime by means of the second-order perturbation theory. The system is described by the impurity Anderson Hamiltonian with arbitrary Coulomb correlation parameter U. It is assumed that the dot level is intrinsically spin-split due to an effective molecular field exerted by a magnetic substrate. The dot is coupled to two ferromagnetic leads whose magnetic moments are noncollinear. The angular dependence of electric current, tunnel magnetoresistance, and differential conductance are presented and discussed. The evolution of a cotunneling gap with the angle between magnetic moments and with the splitting of the dot level is also demonstrated.     

Transport through a single discrete level for non-collinear magnetic polarizations of the electron reservoirs

Spin-polarized transport through a non-interacting single-level quantum dot coupled to two ferromagnetic leads with non-collinear magnetizations is analyzed theoretically by the non-equilibrium Green function technique. It is shown that spin of an electron that has tunnelled on the dot precesses around an effective exchange field before it leaves the dot. The exchange field originates from interaction between the electron and external electrodes. Electric current, tunnel magnetoresistance, and average value of spin accumulated on the dot are calculated for an arbitrary angle between magnetic moments of the electrodes.     

Interacting quantum dot coupled to a kondo spin: a universal Hamiltonian study

We study a Kondo spin coupled to a mesoscopic interacting quantum dot that is described by the "universal Hamiltonian." The problem is solved numerically by diagonalizing the system Hamiltonian in a good-spin basis and analytically in the weak and strong Kondo coupling limits. The ferromagnetic exchange interaction within the dot leads to a stepwise increase of the ground-state spin (Stoner staircase), which is modified nontrivially by the Kondo interaction. We find that the spin-transition steps move to lower values of the exchange coupling for weak Kondo interaction, but shift back up for sufficiently strong Kondo coupling. The interplay between Kondo and ferromagnetic exchange correlations can be probed with experimentally tunable parameters.     

Heat Generation by Electric Current in a Quantum Dot Molecular Coupled to Ferromagnetic Leads

We study the properties of the heat flow generated by electric current in a quantum dot(QD) molecular sandwiched between two ferromagnetic leads. The heat is exchanged between the QD and the phonon reservoir coupled to it. We find that when the leads' magnetic moments are in parallel configuration, the total heat generation is independent on the leads' spin-polarization regardless of the magnitude of the intradot Coulomb interaction. This behavior is similar to that of the electronic current. In the antiparallel configuration, however, the influences of the leads' ferromagnetism on the heat generation are quite different from those on the electric current. Under the conditions of weak intradot Coulomb interaction and small bias voltage, the heat generation is monotonously suppressed by increasing leads' spin-polarization.Whereas for sufficient large intradot Coulomb interaction and bias voltage, the heat generation shows non-monotonous behavior due to the electron-phonon interaction and the spin accumulation induced on the dot. Furthermore, the magnitude of the negative differential of the heat generation previously found in a QD connected to nonmagnetic leads can be weakened by the increase of the spin-polarization of the ferromagnetic leads.     

Heat Generation by Electric Current in a Quantum Dot Molecular Coupled to Ferromagnetic Leads

We study the properties of the heat flow generated by electric current in a quantum dot (QD) molecular sandwiched between two ferromagnetic leads. The heat is exchanged between the QD and the phonon reservoir coupled to it. We find that when the leads' magnetic moments are in parallel configuration, the total heat generation is independent on the leads' spin-polarization regardless of the magnitude of the intradot Coulomb interaction. This behavior is similar to that of the electronic current. In the antiparallel configuration, however, the influences of the leads' ferromagnetism on the heat generation are quite different from those on the electric current. Under the conditions of weak intradot Coulomb interaction and small bias voltage, the heat generation is monotonously suppressed by increasing leads' spin-polarization. Whereas for sufficient large intradot Coulomb interaction and bias voltage, the heat generation shows non-monotonous behavior due to the electron-phonon interaction and the spin accumulation induced on the dot. Furthermore, the magnitude of the negative differential of the heat generation previously found in a QD connected to nonmagnetic leads can be weakened by the increase of the spin-polarization of the ferromagnetic leads.     

Probing the effective nuclear-spin magnetic field in a single quantum dot via full counting statistics

We study theoretically the full counting statistics of electron transport through a quantum dot weakly coupled to two ferromagnetic leads, in which an effective nuclear-spin magnetic field originating from the configuration of nuclear spins is considered. We demonstrate that the quantum coherence between the two singly-occupied eigenstates and the spin polarization of two ferromagnetic leads play an important role in the formation of super-Poissonian noise. In particular, the orientation and magnitude of the effective field have a significant influence on the variations of the values of high-order cumulants, and the variations of the skewness and kurtosis values are more sensitive to the orientation and magnitude of the effective field than the shot noise. Thus, the high-order cumulants of transport current can be used to qualitatively extract information on the orientation and magnitude of the effective nuclear-spin magnetic field in a single quantum dot.     

Inelastic Cotunneling Current and Shot Noise of an Interacting Quantum Dot with Ferromagnetic Correlations

We explore inelastic cotunneling through a strongly Coulomb-blockaded quantum dot attached to two ferromagnetic leads in the weak coupling limit using a generic quantum Langevin equation approach. We first develop a Bloch-type equation microscopically to describe the cotunneling-induced spin relaxation dynamics, and then develop explicit analytical expressions for the local magnetization, current, and its fluctuations. On this basis, we predict a novel zero-bias anomaly of the differential conductance in the absence of a magnetic field for the anti-parallel configuration, and asymmetric peak splitting in a magnetic field. Also, for the same system with large polarization, we find a negative zero-frequency differential shot noise in the low positive bias-voltage region. All these effects are ascribed to rapid spin-reversal due to underlying spin-flip cotunneling.     

Theory of electron mediated Mn-Mn interactions in quantum dots

We present a theory of interaction of magnetic Mn ions depending strongly on the number (Ne) of electrons in a quantum dot. For closed electronic shells, we derive the RKKY interaction and its dependence on magnetic ion positions, quantum dot energy quantization omega0, and the number of filled shells Ns. For partially filled shells, the many-electron magnetopolaron effect leads to effective carrier mediated ferromagnetic Mn-Mn interactions. The dependence of the magnetopolaron energy on magnetic ion positions, quantum dot energy quantization omega0, and the number of electrons Ne is predicted.     

Interaction-driven spin precession in quantum-dot spin valves

We analyze spin-dependent transport through spin valves composed of an interacting quantum dot coupled to two ferromagnetic leads. The spin on the quantum dot and the linear conductance as a function of the relative angle theta of the leads' magnetization directions is derived to lowest order in the dot-lead coupling strength. Because of the applied bias voltage spin accumulates on the quantum dot, which for finite charging energy experiences a torque, resulting in spin precession. The latter leads to a nontrivial, interaction-dependent, theta dependence of the conductance. In particular, we find that the spin-valve effect is reduced for all theta not equal pi.     

Spin-dependent transport through quantum dot with inelastic interactions

Using the Keldysh nonequilibrium Green function method, we theoretically investigate the electron transport properties of a quantum dot coupled to two ferromagnetic electrodes, with inelastic electron-phonon interaction and spin flip scattering present in the quantum dot. It is found that the electron-phonon interaction reduces the current, induces new satellite polaronic peaks in the differential conductance spectrum, and at the same time leads to oscillatory tunneling magnetoresistance effect. Spin flip scattering suppresses the zero-bias conductance peak and splits it into two, with different behaviors for parallel and anti-parallel magnetic configuration of the two electrodes. Consequently, a negative tunneling magnetoresistance effect may occur in the resonant tunneling region, with increasing spin flip scattering rate.     

T型量子点结构中的自旋极化输运过程

我们利用单杂质Anderson模型及运动方程等理论,通过求解格林函数的方法研究了通过T型量子点结构(耦合于铁磁电极和介观环量子点结构)的自旋极化输运过程.研究结果表明,与量子点相耦合的铁磁电极中的极化强度是控制量子点电子输运的重要参数,由此可以达到自旋阀效应.另外我们还发现与量子点相耦合的介观环中的磁通会影响电子自旋向上和自旋向下近藤共振峰的分裂程度,但若加入适当的外磁场,那么这样的分裂将被抵消。     

Heat transport and thermoelectric efficiency of two-level quantum dot attached to ferromagnetic electrodes

Energy transport, in the linear response regime, through a two-level quantum dot/molecule attached to ferromagnetic leads is studied in the Coulomb blockade region with use of the Green function formalism. Thermal conductance and figure of merit ZT are calculated and discussed for two configurations of magnetic moments and different polarization factor in the leads. A strong dependence of ZT on polarization is found. A substantial enhancement of efficiency can be observed in molecular junctions with one of energy levels weakly coupled to the leads. Moreover, in systems, in which spin accumulation in electrodes is important, a quite considerable spin efficiency can be expected.     

Thermoelectric effects in a double quantum dot system weakly coupled to ferromagnetic leads

Thermoelectric effects through a serial double quantum dot system weakly coupled to ferromagnetic leads are analyzed. Formal expressions of electrical conductance, thermal conductance, and thermal coefficient are obtained by means of Hubbard operators. The results show that although the thermopower is independent of the polarization of the leads, the figure of merit is reduced by an increase of polarization. The influences of temperature and interdot tunneling on the figure of merit are also investigated, and it is observed that increase of the interdot tunneling strength results in reduction of the figure of merit. The effect of temperature on the thermal conductance is also analyzed.     

Cotunneling current and shot noise in quantum dots

We derive general expressions for the current and the shot noise, taking into account non-Markovian memory effects. In generalization of previous approaches, our theory is valid for an arbitrary Coulomb interaction and coupling strength and is applicable to quantum dots and more complex systems such as molecules. A fully consistent diagrammatic expansion up to second order in the coupling strength, taking into account cotunneling processes, allows for a study of transport in an intermediate coupling strength regime relevant to many current experiments. We discuss a single-level quantum dot as a first example, focusing on the Coulomb-blockade regime where the cotunneling processes dominate. We find super-Poissonian shot noise due to inelastic spin-flip cotunneling processes at an energy scale different from the one expected from first-order calculations.     

Josephson current in carbon nanotubes with spin-orbit interaction

We demonstrate that curvature-induced spin-orbit coupling induces a 0-π transition in the Josephson current through a carbon nanotube quantum dot coupled to superconducting leads. In the noninteracting regime, the transition can be tuned by applying a parallel magnetic field near the critical field where orbital states become degenerate. Moreover, the interplay between charging and spin-orbit effects in the Coulomb blockade and cotunneling regimes leads to a rich phase diagram with well-defined (analytical) boundaries in parameter space. Finally, the 0 phase always prevails in the Kondo regime. Our calculations are relevant in view of recent experimental advances in transport through ultraclean carbon nanotubes.     

Finite-bias Cooper pair splitting

In a device with a superconductor coupled to two parallel quantum dots (QDs) the electrical tunability of the QD levels can be used to exploit nonclassical current correlations due to the splitting of Cooper pairs. We experimentally investigate the effect of a finite potential difference across one quantum dot on the conductance through the other completely grounded QD in a Cooper pair splitter fabricated on an InAs nanowire. We demonstrate that the nonlocal electrical transport through the device can be tuned by electrical means and that the energy dependence of the effective density of states in the QDs is relevant for the rates of Cooper pair splitting (CPS) and elastic cotunneling. Such experimental tools are necessary to understand and develop CPS-based sources of entangled electrons in solid-state devices.     

Nonequilibrium transport through a spinful quantum dot with superconducting leads

We study the nonlinear cotunneling current through a spinful quantum dot contacted by two superconducting leads. Applying a general nonequilibrium Green function formalism to an effective Kondo model, we study the rich variation in the IV characteristics with varying asymmetry in the tunnel coupling to source and drain electrodes. The current is found to be carried, respectively, by multiple Andreev reflections in the symmetric limit, and by spin-induced Yu-Shiba-Rusinov bound states in the strongly asymmetric limit. The interplay between these two mechanisms leads to qualitatively different IV characteristics in the crossover regime of intermediate symmetry, consistent with recent experimental observations of negative differential conductance and repositioned conductance peaks in subgap cotunneling spectroscopy.     

Nearly noninvasive readout and manipulation of spin in double quantum dot using spin bias

Dynamics of two quantum dots coupled to electrodes with spin bias is investigated theoretically by means of the master equations. The two dots are coupled via exchange interaction. When the exchange interaction is much smaller than the lead-dot 2 coupling and dot 2 is under a symmetric spin bias, an initially fully polarized electron spin in dot 1 undergoes an oscillation with ignorable attenuation. Meanwhile, the direction of charge current flowing through dot 2 oscillates in the same period as that of the spin in dot 1. This allows to reverse or nearly noninvasively read out the spin in dot 1, by switching on and off the exchange interaction for a duration of half-integer or integer periods of the oscillation, respectively.     

Large Negative Differential of Heat Generation in a Two-Level Quantum Dot Coupled to Ferromagnetic Leads

Heat current exchanged between a two-level quantum dot (QD) and a phonon reservoir coupled to it is studied within the nonequilibrium Green's function method. We consider that the QD is connected to the left and right ferromagnetic leads. It is found that the negative differential of the heat generation (NDHG) phenomenon, i.e., the intensity of the heat generation decreases with increasing bias voltage, is obviously enhanced as compared to that in single-level QD system. The NDHG can emerge in the absence of the negative differential conductance of the electric current, and occurs in different bias voltage regions when the magnetic moments of the two leads are arranged in parallel or antiparallel configurations. The characteristics of the found phenomena can be understood by examining the change of the electron number on the dot.     

Large Negative Differential of Heat Generation in a Two-Level Quantum Dot Coupled to Ferromagnetic Leads

Heat current exchanged between a two-level quantum dot(QD) and a phonon reservoir coupled to it is studied within the nonequilibrium Green's function method. We consider that the QD is connected to the left and right ferromagnetic leads. It is found that the negative differential of the heat generation(NDHG) phenomenon,i.e.,the intensity of the heat generation decreases with increasing bias voltage,is obviously enhanced as compared to that in single-level QD system. The NDHG can emerge in the absence of the negative differential conductance of the electric current,and occurs in different bias voltage regions when the magnetic moments of the two leads are arranged in parallel or antiparallel configurations. The characteristics of the found phenomena can be understood by examining the change of the electron number on the dot.