arXiv subjects

Yu-Fei Sun

Publications and source records attributed to Yu-Fei Sun.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Spin-textured orbitals in altermagnetic artificial atoms

Artificial atoms provide a versatile platform for engineering atomic-like orbitals, yet spin generally remains a passive degree of freedom in their orbital structure. Here, we introduce the concept of altermagnetic artificial atoms formed by confining electrons with momentum-dependent spin splitting. We show that altermagnetism reconstructs conventional confined orbitals into spin-textured orbitals, with spatially distinct distributions of opposite spin components. The resulting confined spectrum retains a twofold degeneracy protected by the combined $C_{4z}\mathcal{T}$ symmetry. These spin textures persist in higher-energy states, where additional radial structures combine with the characteristic angular spin pattern. Furthermore, strain resolves the degenerate orbital pairs into spin-polarized states, and continuously tunes their energy splitting. Our results establish altermagnetic artificial atoms as a route to engineering spin-dependent orbital structures in quantum-confined systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Unconventional Spin Valve Based on Normal Metal/Chiral Molecule/Altermagnet Junctions

Chiral molecules have attracted broad interdisciplinary interest for their ability to produce highly spin-polarized current. This phenomenon, known as the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect, holds great potential in the field of spintronics. Here, we propose to combine chiral molecules with altermagnets to construct highly efficient and tunable spin valves. Using the nonequilibrium Green's function method and the Landauer-B\"uttiker formula, we obtain the conductance and the magnetoresistance of a normal metal/chiral molecule/altermagnet spin valve. Our theoretical results reveal that the conductance of the spin valve can be effectively tuned by reorienting the N\'eel vector of the altermagnet, and the magnetoresistance of the spin valve increases with molecular length and altermagnetic anisotropy. Moreover, the magnetoresistance vanishes for achiral molecules or in the absence of molecular spin-orbit coupling. Our work paves the way for developing efficient, controllable, and stray-field-free spintronic devices.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2025

Design of a Josephson diode based on double magnetic impurities

We theoretically propose a universal superconducting diode device based on double magnetic impurities which are coupled to the connection region of the Josephson junction. The positive and negative currents flowing across the junction can generate opposite magnetic fields, flipping the magnetic moment of the side magnetic impurity to the opposite directions, and in turn, the two impurities will have different impacts on the opposite currents. This results in the phenomenon that the positive and negative critical currents are unequal, referred to as the superconducting diode effect (SDE). Using the nonequilibrium Green's function method (NEGF), we obtain the direction-dependent critical currents. We confirm the emergency of the SDE and demonstrate the dependence of the superconducting diode efficiency on a range of parameters including the magnitude, the direction, and the position of the magnetic moment. Besides, we systematically analyze the symmetry relations of the nonreciprocity in our system. Our proposal has high practicability by avoiding the demand on the external magnetic field, the Cooper pair momentum, and the spin-orbit coupling. Our approach opens up new possibilities for the development of nonreciprocal electronic circuits and provides an alternate perspective on the advancement of superconducting devices.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Tunneling Magnetoresistance Effect in Altermagnets

As an unconventional magnet, altermagnetism attracts great interest in condensed matter physics and applies a new research platform for the spintronics. Since the tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) effect is an important research aspect in spintronics, we theoretically propose a universal altermagnetic sandwich device to achieve the TMR effect and investigate its transport properties. Using the nonequilibrium Green's function method and the Landauer-B\"uttiker formula, we obtain the conductance and the TMR ratio. By systematically rotating the orientations of the altermagnet and spin, we investigate how the altermagnetic orientations affect the conductance and the TMR ratio, and comprehensively demonstrate the dependence of the conductance and the TMR ratio on a range of parameters in the system. By tuning the altermagnetism strength and the Fermi energy, as well as rotating the orientations in the altermagnet, the TMR ratio can reach a value of over 1000%. In addition, we analyze the detailed symmetry relations of the conductance and the TMR ratio in our system. Our approach provides a new design concept for the next-generation information technologies based on the altermagnetic platform, paving the way for the development of spintronics applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Design of Josephson diode based on magnetic impurity

We theoretically propose a mechanism to realize the superconducting diode effect (SDE): The current can generate a magnetic field, affecting the magnetic moment of magnetic impurity. When the connection region of the Josephson junction is coupled with the magnetic impurity, the supercurrents in positive and negative directions have different influences on the magnetic moment. This results in a phenomenon that the critical supercurrents in these opposite directions are unequal, which is called SDE. We model the Josephson connection region by a quantum dot. Then the critical supercurrents are investigated by the non-equilibrium Green's function method, and we carry out a detailed symmetry analysis on the supercurrent relations. The calculation results confirm that the SDE does exist in this system. Besides, the SDE is significant in a wide parameter space and can be effectively adjusted in various ways. Our design only demands a magnetic impurity and conventional superconductors. The unconventional finite-momentum Cooper pair and spin-orbit coupling are not required, and there is also no need for the existence of chirality or an external magnetic field. Our work provides a universal device structure for the development of superconducting electronics.

cond-mat.supr-con↗