Spin-polarized transport through a single-level quantum dot in the Kondo regime

Nonequilibrium electronic transport through a quantum dot coupled to ferromagnetic leads (electrodes) is studied theoretically by the nonequilibrium Green function technique. The system is described by the Anderson model with arbitrary correlation parameter $U$. Exchange interaction between the dot and ferromagnetic electrodes is taken into account {\it via} an effective molecular field. The following situations are analyzed numerically: (i) the dot is symmetrically coupled to two ferromagnetic leads, (ii) one of the two ferromagnetic leads is half-metallic with almost total spin polarization of electron states at the Fermi level, and (iii) one of the two electrodes is nonmagnetic whereas the other one is ferromagnetic. Generally, the Kondo peak in the density of states (DOS) becomes spin-split when the total exchange field acting on the dot is nonzero. The spin-splitting of the Kondo peak in DOS leads to splitting and suppression of the corresponding zero bias anomaly in the differential conductance.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Kondo effect in quantum dots coupled to ferromagnetic leads with noncollinear magnetizations

Non-equilibrium Green's function technique has been used to calculate spin-dependent electronic transport through a quantum dot in the Kondo regime. The dot is described by the Anderson Hamiltonian and is coupled either symmetrically or asymmetrically to ferromagnetic leads, whose magnetic moments are noncollinear. It is shown that the splitting of the zero bias Kondo anomaly in differential conductance decreases monotonically with increasing angle between magnetizations, and for antiparallel configuration it vanishes in the symmetrical case while remains finite in the asymmetrical one.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Transient heat generation in a quantum dot under a step-like pulse bias

We study the transient heat generation in a quantum dot system driven by a step-like or a square-shaped pulse bias. We find that a periodically oscillating heat generation arises after adding the sudden bias. One particularly surprising result is that there exists a heat absorption from the zero-temperature phonon subsystem. Thus the phonon population in non-equilibrium can be less than that of the equilibrium electron-phonon system. In addition, we also ascertain the optimal conditions for the operation of a quantum dot with the minimum heat generation.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Spin-dependent thermoelectric transport through double quantum dots

We study thermoelectric transport through double quantum dots system with spin-dependent interdot coupling and ferromagnetic electrodes by means of the non-equilibrium Green function in the linear response regime. It is found that the thermoelectric coefficients are strongly dependent on the splitting of interdot coupling, the relative magnetic configurations and the spin polarization of leads. In particular, the thermoelectric efficiency can achieve considerable value in parallel configuration when the effective interdot coupling and tunnel coupling between QDs and the leads for spin-down electrons are small. Moreover, the thermoelectric efficiency increases with the intradot Coulomb interactions increasing and can reach very high value at an appropriate temperature. In the presence of the magnetic field, the spin accumulation in leads strongly suppresses the thermoelectric efficiency and a pure spin thermopower can be obtained.Comment: 5 figure

Kondo effect in quantum dots coupled to ferromagnetic leads with noncollinear magnetizations: effects due to electron-phonon coupling

Spin-polarized transport through a quantum dot strongly coupled to ferromagnetic electrodes with non-collinear magnetic moments is analyzed theoretically in terms of the non-equilibrium Green function formalism. Electrons in the dot are assumed to be coupled to a phonon bath. The influence of electron-phonon coupling on tunnelling current, linear and nonlinear conductance, and on tunnel magnetoresistance is studied in detail. Variation of the main Kondo peaks and phonon satellites with the angle between magnetic moments of the leads is analyzed.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figure

Residual Kondo effect in quantum dot coupled to half-metallic ferromagnets

We study the Kondo effect in a quantum dot coupled to half-metallic ferromagnetic electrodes in the regime of strong on-dot correlations. Using the equation of motion technique for nonequilibrium Green functions in the slave boson representation we show that the Kondo effect is not completely suppressed for anti-parallel leads magnetization. In the parallel configuration there is no Kondo effect but there is an effect associated with elastic cotunneling which in turn leads to similar behavior of the local (on-dot) density of states (LDOS) as the usual Kondo effect. Namely, the LDOS shows the temperature dependent resonance at the Fermi energy which splits with the bias voltage and the magnetic field. Moreover, unlike for non-magnetic or not fully polarized ferromagnetic leads the only minority spin electrons can form such resonance in the density of states. However, this resonance cannot be observed directly in the transport measurements and we give some clues how to identify the effect in such systems.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in J. Phys.: Condens. Mat

Spin effects in single electron tunneling

An important consequence of the discovery of giant magnetoresistance in metallic magnetic multilayers is a broad interest in spin dependent effects in electronic transport through magnetic nanostructures. An example of such systems are tunnel junctions -- single-barrier planar junctions or more complex ones. In this review we present and discuss recent theoretical results on electron and spin transport through ferromagnetic mesoscopic junctions including two or more barriers. Such systems are also called ferromagnetic single-electron transistors. We start from the situation when the central part of a device has the form of a magnetic (or nonmagnetic) metallic nanoparticle. Transport characteristics reveal then single-electron charging effects, including the Coulomb staircase, Coulomb blockade, and Coulomb oscillations. Single-electron ferromagnetic transistors based on semiconductor quantum dots and large molecules (especially carbon nanotubes) are also considered. The main emphasis is placed on the spin effects due to spin-dependent tunnelling through the barriers, which gives rise to spin accumulation and tunnel magnetoresistance. Spin effects also occur in the current-voltage characteristics, (differential) conductance, shot noise, and others. Transport characteristics in the two limiting situations of weak and strong coupling are of particular interest. In the former case we distinguish between the sequential tunnelling and cotunneling regimes. In the strong coupling regime we concentrate on the Kondo phenomenon, which in the case of transport through quantum dots or molecules leads to an enhanced conductance and to a pronounced zero-bias Kondo peak in the differential conductance.Comment: topical review (36 figures, 65 pages), to be published in J. Phys.: Condens. Matte

Dynamic Susceptibility in Thin Films with Antiferromagnetic Coupling between Layers

The dynamic susceptibility of the system with antiferromagnetic coupling between layers is investigated within the framework of the multiband model using the equation of motion with random phase approximation. Calculations are performed in the mixed Bloch-Wannier representation and a general form for χ is found. The susceptibility can be written in terms of two-particle Green's functions expressed in the local coordinate system with the z axis aligned along the local magnetization. The expression depends on an angle between the magnetization direction in a given layer and the crystal axis. Preliminary numerical calculations are performed for two systems: ultrathin Cr film and Fe/Cr multilayer structure. Imaginary part of the susceptibility corresponding to different layers is calculated and spin waves are discussed

Temperature Dependence of Magnetization in Transition Metal Ultrathin Films of Various Thicknesses

Temperature dependence of the local magnetization in the spin-wave regime is calculated within the framework of the multiband model for ultrathin films consisting of 5, 7 and 9 monolayers. The temperature range in which the calculated results can be fitted to the Bloch T$\text{}^{3}$ $\text{}^{/}$ $\text{}^{2}$ law is found in all cases. The Bloch coefficient Bay corresponding to temperature dependence of the average film magnetization is found to be proportional to 1/D, where D is the thickness of the film. The spatial distribution of the local magnetization is obtained. The Bloch coefficient corresponding to the surface layer appears to be greater than the one corresponding to the central layer, namely B$\text{}_{s}$ > B$\text{}_{c}$. The ratio B$\text{}_{s}$/B$\text{}_{c}$ is increasing with an increase of the film thickness. The calculated results are well consistent with experimental ones obtained for ultrathin films of various thicknesses

Ground-State Properties and Spin Waves in Ultrathin Fe Films Covered with Magnetic and Nonmagnetic Materials

Properties of ultrathin films consisted of 5 and 7 atomic layers of Fe and covered with magnetic (Co) or nonmagnetic (Cu, Ag) materials are investigated within the framework of the multiband model. Ground-state results consistent with those known from ab initio approaches are obtained. Spin waves are studied in the random phase approximation with the use of the susceptibility method. Amplitudes and dispersion relations are calculated. Two acoustic modes with amplitudes enhanced at the interface are found