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Physical Society ColloquiumInterview for Faculty PositionSpintronics with electrons in nanostructuresUlrich ZuelickeKarlsruheUsing the spin of electrons to manipulate current flow has been suggested as a potentially useful alternative to the current charge-based electronics paradigm. Relevant to that, and very interesting from a fundamental-science point of view, is the study of spin-dependent electron transport in nanostructures. In particular, the interplay between quantum confinement and intrinsic spin-orbit coupling in low-dimensional semiconductor structures gives rise to a host of intriguing (and sometimes counterintuitive!) effects. As an example, we show how spin-polarized currents can be generated in a system of two parallel tunnel-coupled quantum wires in the absence of any magnets and magnetic fields. In essence, this realizes a mesoscopic Stern-Gerlach experiment that is controlled by a voltage instead of magnetic field. Furthermore, we discuss origin and consequences of a novel spin structure arising in single wires when their width is comparable to the spin-orbit induced precession length for electron spins.
Tuesday, March 11th 2003, 16:00
Ernest Rutherford Physics Building, R.E. Bell Conference Room (room 103) |