Quantum wires in magnetic field: A comparative study of the Hartree-Fock and the spin density functional approaches

We present a detailed comparison of the self-consistent calculations based on the Hartree-Fock and the spin density functional theory for a spit-gate quantum wire in the IQH regime. We demonstrate that both approaches provide qualitatively (and in most cases quantitatively) similar results for the spin-resolved electron density, spin polarization, spatial spin separation at the edges and the effective $g$ factor. The both approach give the same values of the magnetic fields corresponding to the successive subband depopulation and qualitatively similar evolution of the magnetosubbands. Quantitatively, however, the HF and the DFT subbands are different (even though the corresponding total electron densities are practically the same). In contrast to the HF approach, the DFT calculations predict much larger spatial spin separation near the wire edge for the low magnetic fields (when the compressible strips for spinless electrons are not formed yet). In the opposite limit of the large fields, the Hatree-Fock and the DFT approaches give very similar values for the spatial spin separation.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Diffraction and boundary conditions in semi-classical open billiards

The conductance through open quantum dots or quantum billiards shows fluctuations, that can be explained as interference between waves following different paths between the leads of the billiard. We examine such systems by the use of a semi-classical Green's functions. In this paper we examine how the choice of boundary conditions at the lead mouths affect the diffraction. We derive a new formula for the S-matrix element. Finally we compare semi-classical simulations to quantum mechanical ones, and show that this new formula yield superior results.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Quantum antidot as a controllable spin injector and spin filter

We propose a device based on an antidot embedded in a narrow quantum wire in the edge state regime, that can be used to inject and/or to control spin polarized current. The operational principle of the device is based on the effect of resonant backscattering from one edge state into another through a localized quasi-bound states, combined with the effect of Zeeman splitting of the quasibound states in sufficiently high magnetic field. We outline the device geometry, present detailed quantum-mechanical transport calculation and suggest a possible scheme to test the device performance and functionality

Effect of short- and long-range scattering in the conductivity of graphene: Boltzmann approach vs tight-binding calculations

We present a comparative study of the density dependence of the conductivity of graphene sheets calculated in the tight-binding (TB) Landauer approach and on the basis of the Boltzmann theory. The TB calculations are found to give the same density dependence of the conductivity, $\sigma \sim n$, for short-range and long-range Gaussian scatterers. In the case of short-range scattering the TB calculations are in agreement with the predictions of the Boltzmann theory going beyond the Born approximation, but in qualitative and quantitative disagreement with the standard Boltzmann approach within the Born approximation, predicting $\sigma=$ const. Even for the long-range Gaussian potential in a parameter range corresponding to realistic systems the standard Boltzmann predictions are in quantitative and qualitative disagreement with the TB results. This questions the applicability of the standard Boltzmann approach within the Born approximation, commonly used for the interpretation of the results of experimental studies of the transport in graphene.Comment: 5 page

Interacting electrons in graphene nanoribbons in the lowest Landau level

We study the effect of electron-electron interaction and spin on electronic and transport properties of gated graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) in a perpendicular magnetic field in the regime of the lowest Landau level (LL). The electron-electron interaction is taken into account using the Hartree and Hubbard approximations, and the conductance of GNRs is calculated on the basis of the recursive Greens function technique within the Landauer formalism. We demonstrate that, in comparison to the one-electron picture, electron-electron interaction leads to the drastic changes in the dispersion relation and structure of propagating states in the regime of the lowest LL showing a formation of the compressible strip and opening of additional conductive channels in the middle of the ribbon. We show that the latter are very sensitive to disorder and get scattered even if the concentration of disorder is moderate. In contrast, the edge states transport is very robust and can not be suppressed even in the presence of a strong spin-flipping.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure