Spin–orbit induced electronic spin separation in semiconductor nanostructures

Makoto Kohda (), Shuji Nakamura, Yoshitaka Nishihara, Kensuke Kobayashi, Teruo Ono, Jun-ichiro Ohe, Yasuhiro Tokura, Taiki Mineno and Junsaku Nitta
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Makoto Kohda: Tohoku University, 6-6-02 Aramaki-Aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan.
Shuji Nakamura: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University
Yoshitaka Nishihara: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University
Kensuke Kobayashi: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University
Teruo Ono: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University
Jun-ichiro Ohe: Toho University
Yasuhiro Tokura: NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation
Taiki Mineno: Tohoku University, 6-6-02 Aramaki-Aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan.
Junsaku Nitta: Tohoku University, 6-6-02 Aramaki-Aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan.

Nature Communications, 2012, vol. 3, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The demonstration of quantized spin splitting by Stern and Gerlach is one of the most important experiments in modern physics. Their discovery was the precursor of recent developments in spin-based technologies. Although electrical spin separation of charged particles is fundamental in spintronics, in non-uniform magnetic fields it has been difficult to separate the spin states of charged particles due to the Lorentz force, as well as to the insufficient and uncontrollable field gradients. Here we demonstrate electronic spin separation in a semiconductor nanostructure. To avoid the Lorentz force, which is inevitably induced when an external magnetic field is applied, we utilized the effective non-uniform magnetic field which originates from the Rashba spin–orbit interaction in an InGaAs-based heterostructure. Using a Stern–Gerlach-inspired mechanism, together with a quantum point contact, we obtained field gradients of 108 T m−1 resulting in a highly polarized spin current.

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2080

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