arXiv · 1411.3088
Spin-dependent Refraction at the Atomic Step of Transition-metal Dichalcogenides
Abstract
We theoretically propose a novel spin-dependent electronic transport mechanism in which the spin-unpolarized electron beam is split into different directions depending on spins at an atomic domain boundary in non-magnetic material. Specifically, we calculate the electronic transmission across a boundary between monolayer and bilayer of the transition metal dichalcogenide, and demonstrate that up-spin and down-spin electrons entering the boundary are refracted and collimated to opposite directions. The phenomenon is attributed to the strong spin-orbit interaction, the trigonally-warped Fermi surface, and the different crystal symmetries between the monolayer and bilayer systems. The spin-dependent refraction suggests a potential application for a spin splitter, which spatially separates up-spin and down-spin electrons simply by passing the electric current through the boundary.
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Tetsuro Habe, Mikito Koshino. 2014-11-12. Spin-dependent Refraction at the Atomic Step of Transition-metal Dichalcogenides. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.91.201407
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