Andreev reflection through a quantum dot coupled with two ferromagnets and a superconductor

Abstract

We study the Andreev reflection (AR) in a three terminal mesoscopic hybrid system, in which two ferromagnets (F$_1$ and F$_2$) are coupled to a superconductor (S) through a quantum dot (QD). By using non-equilibrium Green function, we derive a general current formula which allows arbitrary spin polarizations, magnetization orientations and bias voltages in F$_1$ and F$_2$. The formula is applied to study both zero bias conductance and finite bias current. The current conducted by crossed AR involving F$_1$, F$_2$ and S is particularly unusual, in which an electron with spin $σ$ incident from one of the ferromagnets picks up another electron with spin $\barσ$ from the other one, both enter S and form a Cooper pair. Several special cases are investigated to reveal the properties of AR in this system.

15 pages, 7 figures, LaTeX