Direct observation of exchange-driven spin interactions in one-dimensional system

Abstract

We present experimental results of transverse electron focusing measurements performed on an n-type GaAs based mesoscopic device consisting of one-dimensional (1D) quantum wires as injector and detector. We show that non-adiabatic injection of 1D electrons at a conductance of e2h results in a single first focusing peak, which transforms into two asymmetric sub-peaks with a gradual increase in the injector conductance up to 2e2h, each sub-peak representing the population of spin-state arising from the spatially separated spins in the injector. Further increasing the conductance flips the spin-states in the 1D channel, thus reversing the asymmetry in the sub-peaks. On applying a source-drain bias, the spin-gap, so obtained, can be resolved, thus providing evidence of exchange interaction induced spin polarization in the 1D systems.