Bias-controlled spin polarization in quantum wires

Abstract

We demonstrate that a source-drain bias creates a fully spin-polarized current as the 0.25(2e2∕h) plateau in quantum wires even in zero magnetic field. When a source-drain bias lifts the momentum degeneracy, the dc measurements show that it is possible to achieve a unidirectional ferromagnetic order and this ordered spin array is destroyed once transport in both directions commences. The spin polarization of currents, between full spin polarization and partial spin polarization (or spin degeneracy), is thus simply controlled by source-drain bias and split-gate voltage, something of considerable value for spintronics.