A wide range of energy spin-filtering in a Rashba quantum ring using S-matrix method

Abstract

In this paper, spin-filtering properties of transmitted electrons through a quantum ring in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit interaction and magnetic flux are studied. To investigate the effects of coupling between the leads and ring on the spin-filtering, the S-matrix method is used. It is shown that by tuning the Rashba spin-orbit strength and the magnetic flux, the quantum ring can act as a perfect spin-filter with high efficiency. The spin-filtering can be changed from spin up to spin down and vice versa by changing the Rashba strength when the magnetic flux is held constant or by changing the magnetic flux when the Rashba strength is held constant. In addition, the effect of the angle between the leads on spin-filtering properties is taken into account and the angles at which the spin-filtering can occur are determined. The spin-filtering can take place in narrow ranges of electron energy for weak coupling, while for strong coupling it can take place in a wide range of electron energy.