Spin-dependent transmission through a chain of rings: influence of a periodically modulated spin-orbit interaction strength or ring radius
arXiv:cond-mat/0407536 · doi:10.1063/1.1775283
Abstract
We study ballistic electron transport through a finite chain of quantum circular rings in the presence of spin-orbit interaction of strength α. For a single ring the transmission and reflection coefficients are obtained analytically and from them the conductance for a chain of rings as a function of αand of the wave vector k of the incident electron. We show that due to destructive spin interferences the chain can be totaly opaque for certain ranges of k the width of which depends on the value of α. A periodic modulation of the strength αor of the ring radius widens up the gaps considerably and produces a nearly binary conductance output.
4 pages, 4 figures. Appl. Phys. Lett., in press