Mn-doped II-VI quantum dots: artificial molecular magnets

The notion of artifical atom relies on the capability to change the number of carriers one by one in semiconductor quantum dots, and the resulting changes in their electronic structure. Organic molecules with transition metal atoms that have a net magnetic moment and display hysteretic behaviour are known as single molecule magnets (SMM). The fabrication of CdTe quantum dots chemically doped with a controlled number of Mn atoms and with a number of carriers controlled either electrically or optically paves the way towards a new concept in nanomagnetism: the artificial single molecule magnet. Here we study the magnetic properties of a Mn-doped CdTe quantum dot for different charge states and show to what extent they behave like a single molecule magnet.Comment: Conference article presented at QD2006, Chamonix, May 200

Magnetism in graphene nano-islands

We study the magnetic properties of nanometer-sized graphene structures with triangular and hexagonal shapes terminated by zig-zag edges. We discuss how the shape of the island, the imbalance in the number of atoms belonging to the two graphene sublattices, the existence of zero-energy states, and the total and local magnetic moment are intimately related. We consider electronic interactions both in a mean-field approximation of the one-orbital Hubbard model and with density functional calculations. Both descriptions yield values for the ground state total spin, $S$, consistent with Lieb's theorem for bipartite lattices. Triangles have a finite $S$ for all sizes whereas hexagons have S=0 and develop local moments above a critical size of $\approx 1.5$ nm.Comment: Published versio

Noncollinear magnetic phases and edge states in graphene quantum Hall bars

Application of a perpendicular magnetic field to charge neutral graphene is expected to result in a variety of broken symmetry phases, including antiferromagnetic, canted and ferromagnetic. All these phases open a gap in bulk but have very different edge states and non-collinear spin order, recently confirmed experimentally. Here we provide an integrated description of both edge and bulk for the various magnetic phases of graphene Hall bars making use of a non-collinear mean field Hubbard model. Our calculations show that, at the edges, the three types of magnetic order are either enhanced (zigzag) or suppressed (armchair). Interestingly, we find that preformed local moments in zigzag edges interact with the quantum Spin Hall like edge states of the ferromagnetic phase and can induce back-scattering.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Spin-transfer torque on a single magnetic adatom

We theoretically show how the spin orientation of a single magnetic adatom can be controlled by spin polarized electrons in a scanning tunneling microscope configuration. The underlying physical mechanism is spin assisted inelastic tunneling. By changing the direction of the applied current, the orientation of the magnetic adatom can be completely reversed on a time scale that ranges from a few nanoseconds to microseconds, depending on bias and temperature. The changes in the adatom magnetization direction are, in turn, reflected in the tunneling conductance.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Single exciton spectroscopy of single-Mn doped InAs quantum dots

The optical spectroscopy of a single InAs quantum dot doped with a single Mn atom is studied using a model Hamiltonian that includes the exchange interactions between the spins of the quantum dot electron-hole pair, the Mn atom and the acceptor hole. Our model permits to link the photoluminescence spectra to the Mn spin states after photon emission. We focus on the relation between the charge state of the Mn, $A^0$ or $A^-$, and the different spectra which result through either band-to-band or band-to-acceptor transitions. We consider both neutral and negatively charged dots. Our model is able to account for recent experimental results on single Mn doped InAs PL spectra and can be used to account for future experiments in GaAs quantum dots. Similarities and differences with the case of single Mn doped CdTe quantum dots are discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

Ultrafast Coherent Spectroscopy of the Fermi Edge Singularity

In this work we present a theoretical description of the transient response of the Fermi Edge Singularity (FES). We study the linear and the nonlinear response of an n-doped QW to laser pulses in the Coherent Control (CC) and Four Wave Mixing (FWM) Configurations. By means of a bosonization formalism we calculate the FWM signal emitted by the sample when it is excited by pulses spectrally peaked around the FES and we show that the long time behavior of the nonlinear signal is very similar to the linear case.Comment: Conference paper (13 EP2DS

Exciton Beats in GaAs Quantum Wells: Bosonic Representation and Collective Effects

We discuss light-heavy hole beats observed in transient optical experiments in GaAs quantum wells in terms of a free-boson coherent state model. This approach is compared with descriptions based on few-level representations. Results lead to an interpretation of the beats as due to classical electromagnetic interference. The boson picture correctly describes photon excitation of extended states and accounts for experiments involving coherent control of the exciton density and Rayleigh scattering beating.Comment: 4 pages, no figures. Accepted for publication in Solid State Communication

Giant magnetoresistance in ultra-small Graphene based devices

By computing spin-polarized electronic transport across a finite zigzag graphene ribbon bridging two metallic graphene electrodes, we demonstrate, as a proof of principle, that devices featuring 100% magnetoresistance can be built entirely out of carbon. In the ground state a short zig-zag ribbon is an antiferromagnetic insulator which, when connecting two metallic electrodes, acts as a tunnel barrier that suppresses the conductance. Application of a magnetic field turns the ribbon ferromagnetic and conducting, increasing dramatically the current between electrodes. We predict large magnetoresistance in this system at liquid nitrogen temperature and 10 Tesla or at liquid helium temperature and 300 Gauss.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Theory of single spin inelastic tunneling spectroscopy

Recent work shows that inelastic electron scanning tunneling microscope (STM) probes the elementary spin excitations of a single and a few magnetic atoms in a thin insulating layer. Here I show that this new type of spectroscopy is described using a phenomenological spin-assisted tunneling Hamiltonian. Within this formalism, the inelastic $dI/dV$ lineshape is related to the spin spectral weight of the probed magnetic atom. This accounts for the spin selection rules observed experimentally. The theory agrees well with existing STM experiments for single Fe and Mn atoms as well as linear chains a few Mn atoms. The magnetic anisotropy in the inelastic $dI/dV$ and the marked odd-even $N$ effects are accounted for by the theory.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure