Spin-helical detection in a semiconductor quantum device with ferromagnetic contacts

Yang, Zedong; Crowell, Paul A.; Pribiag, Vlad S.

doi:10.1103/physrevb.106.115414

Spin-helical detection in a semiconductor quantum device with ferromagnetic contacts

Journal Article · Wed Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Physical Review. B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.106.115414· OSTI ID:1979817

^[1]; Crowell, Paul A. ^[2]; ^[2]

Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States); OSTI
Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)

Spin-helical states, which arise in quasi-one-dimensional (1D) channels with spin-orbital (SO) coupling, underpin efforts to realize topologically protected quantum bits based on Majorana modes in semiconductor nanowires. Detecting helical states is challenging due to non-idealities present in real devices. Past efforts have focused on devices with normal contacts. In contrast, here we show by means of tight-binding calculations that by using ferromagnetic contacts it is possible to detect helical modes with high sensitivity even in the presence of realistic device effects, such as quantum interference. We show that by taking advantage of the spin-selective transmission properties of helical states, new transport signatures become possible. In addition, we show that spin-polarized contacts provide a unique path to investigate the spin-texture and spin-momentum locking properties of helical states. Our results are of interest not only for the ongoing development of Majorana qubits, but also for realizing possible spin-based quantum devices, such as quantum spin modulators and interconnects based on spin-helical channels.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0019274

OSTI ID:: 1979817

Journal Information:: Physical Review. B, Journal Name: Physical Review. B Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 106; ISSN 2469-9950

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Spin-helical detection in a semiconductor quantum device with ferromagnetic contacts

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