12 research outputs found
Spin-dependent Scattering by a Potential Barrier on a Nanotube
The electron spin effects on the surface of a nanotube have been considered
through the spin-orbit interaction (SOI), arising from the electron confinement
on the surface of the nanotube. This is of the same nature as the
Rashba-Bychkov SOI at a semiconductor heterojunction. We estimate the effect of
disorder within a potential barrier on the transmission probability. Using a
continuum model, we obtained analytic expressions for the spin-split energy
bands for electrons on the surface of nanotubes in the presence of SOI. First
we calculate analytically the scattering amplitudes from a potential barrier
located around the axis of the nanotube into spin-dependent states. The effect
of disorder on the scattering process is included phenomenologically and
induces a reduction in the transition probability. We analyzed the relative
role of SOI and disorder on the transmission probability which depends on the
angular and linear momentum of the incoming particle, and its spin orientation.
We demonstrated that in the presence of disorder perfect transmission may not
be achieved for finite barrier heights.Comment: 16 pages, 15 figure
Evanescent states in 2D electron systems with spin-orbit interaction and spin-dependent transmission through a barrier
We find that the total spectrum of electron states in a bounded 2D electron
gas with spin-orbit interaction contains two types of evanescent states lying
in different energy ranges. The first-type states fill in a gap, which opens in
the band of propagating spin-splitted states if tangential momentum is nonzero.
They are described by a pure imaginary wavevector. The states of second type
lie in the forbidden band. They are described by a complex wavevector. These
states give rise to unusual features of the electron transmission through a
lateral potential barrier with spin-orbit interaction, such as an oscillatory
dependence of the tunneling coefficient on the barrier width and electron
energy. But of most interest is the spin polarization of an unpolarized
incident electron flow. Particularly, the transmitted electron current acquires
spin polarization even if the distribution function of incident electrons is
symmetric with respect to the transverse momentum. The polarization efficiency
is an oscillatory function of the barrier width. Spin filtering is most
effective, if the Fermi energy is close to the barrier height.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, more general boundary conditions are used, typos
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