arXiv subjects

Jürgen König

Publications and source records attributed to Jürgen König.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Universal Rashba Spin Precession of Two-Dimensional Electrons and Holes

We study spin precession due to Rashba spin splitting of electrons and holes in semiconductor quantum wells. Based on a simple analytical expression that we derive for the current modulation in a broad class of experimental situations of ferromagnet/nonmagnetic semiconductor/ferromagnet hybrid structures, we conclude that the Datta-Das spin transistor (i) is feasible with holes and (ii) its functionality is not affected by integration over injection angles. The current modulation shows a universal oscillation period, irrespective of the different forms of the Rashba Hamiltonian for electrons and holes. The analytic formulas approximate extremely well exact numerical calculations of a more elaborate Kohn--Luttinger model.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Theory of spin waves in diluted-magnetic-semiconductor quantum wells

We present a theory of collective spin excitations in diluted-magnetic-semiconductor quantum wells in which local magnetic moments are coupled via a quasi-two-dimensional gas of electrons or holes. In the case of a ferromagnetic state with partly spin-polarized electrons, we find that the Goldstone collective mode has anomalous $k^4$ dispersion and that for symmetric quantum wells odd parity modes do not disperse at all. We discuss the gap in the collective excitation spectrum which appears when spin-orbit interactions are included.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Two-dimensional hole precession in an all-semiconductor spin field effect transistor

We present a theoretical study of a spin field-effect transistor realized in a quantum well formed in a p--doped ferromagnetic-semiconductor- nonmagnetic-semiconductor-ferromagnetic-semiconductor hybrid structure. Based on an envelope-function approach for the hole bands in the various regions of the transistor, we derive the complete theory of coherent transport through the device, which includes both heavy- and light-hole subbands, proper modeling of the mode matching at interfaces, integration over injection angles, Rashba spin precession, interference effects due to multiple reflections, and gate-voltage dependences. Numerical results for the device current as a function of externally tunable parameters are in excellent agreement with approximate analytical formulae.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2003

Shot noise in tunneling transport through molecules and quantum dots

We consider electrical transport through single molecules coupled to metal electrodes via tunneling barriers. Approximating the molecule by the Anderson impurity model as the simplest model which includes Coulomb charging effects, we extend the ``orthodox'' theory to expand current and shot noise systematically order by order in the tunnel couplings. In particular, we show that a combined measurement of current and shot noise reveals detailed information of the system even in the weak-coupling limit, such as the ratio of the tunnel-coupling strengths of the molecule to the left and right electrode, and the presence of the Coulomb charging energy. Our analysis holds for single-level quantum dots as well.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2003

Persistent Spin Currents in Helimagnets

We demonstrate that weak external magnetic fields generate dissipationless spin currents in the ground state of systems with spiral magnetic order. Our conclusions are based on phenomenological considerations and on microscopic mean-field theory calculations for an illustrative toy model. We speculate on possible applications of this effect in spintronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2003

EPR and ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductor quantum wells

Motivated by recent measurements of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra in modulation-doped CdMnTe quantum wells, [F.J. Teran {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 91}, 077201 (2003)], we develop a theory of collective spin excitations in quasi-two-dimensional diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs). Our theory explains the anomalously large Knight shift found in these experiments as a consequence of collective coupling between Mn-ion local moments and itinerant-electron spins. We use this theory to discuss the physics of ferromagnetism in (II,Mn)VI quantum wells, and to speculate on the temperature at which it is likely to be observed in n-type modulation doped systems.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2003

Aharonov-Bohm interferometry with quantum dots: scattering approach versus tunneling picture

We address the question of how to model electron transport through closed Aharonov-Bohm interferometers which contain quantum dots. By explicitly studying interferometers with one and two quantum dots, we establish the connection between a tunneling-Hamiltonian formulation on the one hand and a scattering-matrix approach on the other hand. We prove that, under certain circumstances, both approaches are equivalent, i.e., both types of models can describe the same experimental setups. Furthermore, we analyze how the interplay of the Aharonov-Bohm phase and the orbital phase associated with the lengths of the interferometers' arms affect transport properties.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2003

Interaction-driven spin precession in quantum-dot spin valves

We analyze spin-dependent transport through spin valves composed of an interacting quantum dot coupled to two ferromagnetic leads. The spin on the quantum dot and the linear conductance as a function of the relative angle $θ$ of the leads' magnetization directions is derived to lowest order in the dot-lead coupling strength. Due to the applied bias voltage spin accumulates on the quantum dot, which for finite charging energy experiences a torque, resulting in spin precession. The latter leads to a non-trivial, interaction-dependent, $θ$-dependence of the conductance. In particular, we find that the spin-valve effect is reduced for all $θ\neq π$.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2002

Flux-Dependent Level Attraction in Double-Dot Aharonov-Bohm Interferometers

We study electron transport through a closed Aharonov-Bohm interferometer containing two single-level quantum dots. The quantum-dot levels are coupled to each other indirectly via the leads. We find that this coupling yields signatures of an effective flux-dependent level attraction in the linear conductance. Furthermore, we predict a suppression of transport when both levels are close to the Fermi level of the leads. The width of this anomaly is also flux dependent. We identify different regimes in which constructive interference of transmission through identical dots yields a signal that is 1, 2, or 4 times as large as the conductance through a single dot.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2002

Curie Temperature Trends in (III,Mn)V Ferromagnetic Semiconductors

We present a theoretical survey of ferromagnetic transition temperatures in cubic (III,Mn)V semiconductors based on a model with $S=5/2$ local moments exchange-coupled to itinerant holes in the host semiconductor valence band. Starting from the simplest mean-field theory of this model, we estimate the $T_c$ enhancement due to exchange and correlation in the itinerant-hole system, and the $T_c$ suppression due to collective fluctuations of the ordered moments. We show that high critical temperatures in these ferromagnetic semiconductors require both the large magnetic susceptibility contribution from the valence band's heavy holes and the large spin stiffness that results from strong spin-orbit coupling in the valence band. Our calculations demonstrate that this model for the ferromagnetism of these systems is fully consistent with the room-temperature ferromagnetism reported for Mn doped nitrides.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2002

Aharonov-Bohm Interferometry with Interacting Quantum Dots: Spin Configurations, Asymmetric Interference Patterns, Bias-Voltage-Induced Aharonov-Bohm Oscillations, and Symmetries of Transport Coefficients

We study electron transport through multiply-connected mesoscopic geometries containing interacting quantum dots. Our formulation covers both equilibrium and non-equilibrium physics. We discuss the relation of coherent transport channels through the quantum dot to flux-sensitive Aharonov-Bohm oscillations in the total conductance of the device. Contributions to transport in first and second order in the intrinsic line width of the dot levels are addressed in detail. We predict an interaction-induced asymmetry in the amplitude of the interference signal around resonance peaks as a consequence of incoherence associated with spin-flip processes. This asymmetry can be used to probe the total spin of the quantum dot. Such a probe requires less stringent experimental conditions than the Kondo effect, which provides the same information. We show that first-order contributions can be partially or even fully coherent. This contrasts with the sequential-tunneling picture, which describes first-order transport as a sequence of incoherent tunneling processes. We predict bias-voltage induced Aharonov-Bohm oscillations of physical quantities which are independent of flux in the linear-response regime. Going beyond the Onsager relations we analyze the relations between the space symmetry group of the setup and the flux-dependent non-linear conductance.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2001

Magnetic domains in III-V magnetic semiconductors

Recent progress in theoretical understanding of magnetic anisotropy and stiffness in III-V magnetic semiconductors is exploited for predictions of magnetic domain characteristics and methods of their tuning. We evaluate the width and the energy of domain walls as well as the period of stripe domains in perpendicular films. The computed stripe width d = 1.1 um for Ga_0.957Mn_0.043As/In_0.16Ga_0.84As compares favorably to the experimental value 1.5 um, as determined by Shono et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 77, 1363 (2000)].

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2001

Theory of Magnetic Properties and Spin-Wave Dispersion for Ferromagnetic (Ga,Mn)As

We present a microscopic theory of the long-wavelength magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic diluted magnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As. Details of the host semiconductor band structure, described by a six-band Kohn-Luttinger Hamiltonian, are taken into account. We relate our quantum-mechanical calculation to the classical micromagnetic energy functional and determine anisotropy energies and exchange constants. We find that the exchange constant is substantially enhanced compared to the case of a parabolic heavy-hole-band model.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2001

Dissipationless Spin Transport in Thin Film Ferromagnets

Metallic thin film ferromagnets generically possess spiral states that carry dissipationless spin currents. We relate the critical values of these supercurrents to micromagnetic material parameters, identify the circumstances under which the supercurrents will be most robust, and propose experiments which could reveal this new collective transport behavior.

cond-mat↗

arXiv2001

Kondo Correlations and the Fano Effect in Closed AB-Interferometers

We study the Fano-Kondo effect in a closed Aharonov-Bohm (AB) interferometer which contains a single-level quantum dot and predict a frequency doubling of the AB oscillations as a signature of Kondo-correlated states. Using Keldysh formalism, Friedel sum rule and Numerical Renormalization Group, we calculate the exact zero-temperature linear conductance $G$ as a function of AB phase $ϕ$ and level position $ε$. In the unitary limit, $G(ϕ)$ reaches its maximum $2e^2/h$ at $ϕ=π/2$. We find a Fano-suppressed Kondo plateau for $G(ε)$ similar to recent experiments.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2001

Monte Carlo Study of Ferromagnetism in (III,Mn)V Semiconductors

We report on Monte Carlo studies of the kinetic exchange model for (III,Mn)V ferromagnetic semiconductors in which S=5/2 local moments, representing Mn^{2+} ions, are exchange coupled to band electrons. We treat the Mn^{2+}$ spin orientations as classical degrees of freedom and use the Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm to explore thermodynamically important Mn spin configurations. The critical temperature T_c of the model is unambiguously signalled in our finite-size simulations by pronounced peaks in fluctuations of both Mn and band carrier total spins. The T_c's we obtain are, over much of the model's parameter space, substantially smaller than those estimated using mean-field theory. When mean-field theory fails, short-range magnetic order and finite {\em local} carrier spin polarisation are present for temperatures substantially larger than T_{c}. For the simplest version of the model, which has a single parabolic band with effective mass m^*, the dependence of T_{c} on m^* is sublinear at large masses, in disagreement with the mean-field theory result T_{c} \propto m^*. For the carrier densities studied, results obtained with a six-band Luttinger model band Hamiltonian are in good agreement with those obtained for a model with a single parabolic band whose effective mass is equal to the Kohn-Luttinger model heavy-hole mass.

cond-mat↗

arXiv2001

Coherence and Partial Coherence in Interacting Electron Systems

We study coherence of electron transport through interacting quantum dots and discuss the relation of the coherent part to the flux-sensitive conductance for three different types of Aharonov-Bohm interferometers. Contributions to transport in first and second order in the intrinsic line width of the dot levels are addressed in detail. We predict an asymmetry of the interference signal around resonance peaks as a consequence of incoherence associated with spin-flip processes. Furthermore, we show by strict calculation that first-order contributions can be partially or even fully coherent. This contrasts with the sequential-tunneling picture which describes first-order transport as a sequence of incoherent tunneling processes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2001

Limits on the Curie temperature of (III,Mn)V ferromagnetic semiconductors

Mean-field-theory predicts that the Curie temperature T_c of a (III,Mn)V ferromagnet will be proportional to the valence band density-of-states of its host (III,V) semiconductor, suggesting a route toward room-temperature ferromagnetism in this materials class. In this Letter, we use theoretical estimates of spin-wave energies and Monte-Carlo simulations to demonstrate that long-wavelength collective fluctuations, neglected by mean-field theory, will limit the critical temperature in large density-of-states materials. We discuss implications for high T_c searches.

cond-mat↗