Enhanced spin injection efficiency in a four-terminal double quantum dot system

Abstract

Within the scheme of quantum rate equations, we investigate the spin-resolved transport through a double quantum dot system with four ferromagnetic terminals. It is found that the injection efficiency of spin-polarized electrons can be significantly improved compared with single dot case. When the magnetization in one of four ferromagnetic terminals is antiparallel with the other three, the polarization rate of the current through one dot can be greatly enhanced, accompanied by the drastic decrease of the current polarization rate through the other one. The mechanism is the exchange interaction between electrons in the two quantum dots, which can be a promising candidate for the improvement of the spin injection efficiency.

10 pages and 5 figures