Kondo effect in quantum dots coupled to ferromagnetic leads

Abstract

We study the Kondo effect in a quantum dot which is coupled to ferromagnetic leads and analyse its properties as a function of the spin polarization of the leads. Based on a scaling approach we predict that for parallel alignment of the magnetizations in the leads the strong-coupling limit of the Kondo effect is reached at a finite value of the magnetic field. Using an equation-of-motion technique we study nonlinear transport through the dot. For parallel alignment the zero-bias anomaly may be split even in the absence of an external magnetic field. For antiparallel spin alignment and symmetric coupling, the peak is split only in the presence of a magnetic field, but shows a characteristic asymmetry in amplitude and position.