Exchange field determination in a quantum dot spin valve by the spin dynamics

Abstract

We develop the theory of the electron transport through quantum dot weakly coupled to ferromagnetic leads with noncollinear magnetization directions, that has been studied in recent experiments. One can observe much richer transport behavior of the canted quantum dot spin valves, as compared to single magnetic tunnel junctions, that relies on the possibility to generate a nonequilibrium accumulated spin on the quantum dot and the presence of the exchange interaction between dot and electrodes, depending on system parameters such as gate and bias voltages, the charging energy, an asymmetry of the tunnel couplings, and the external magnetic field. We demonstrate that one can extract information about spin dynamics on quantum dot from the dc current–voltage characteristic even at the linear response, and detect the exchange field similarly to the FMR (ferromagnetic resonance) experiment. This exchange field can be widely used in nano-spinelectronics, as a local field controlled by the gate or bias voltages also at high temperatures.