Spin and charge pumping in a quantum wire: the role of spin-flip scattering and Zeeman splitting

Abstract

We investigate theoretically charge and spin pumps based on a linear configuration of quantum dots (quantum wire) which are disturbed by an external time-dependent perturbation. This perturbation forms an impulse which moves as a train pulse through the wire. It is found that the charge pumped through the system depends non-monotonically on the wire length, N. In the presence of the Zeeman splitting pure spin current flowing through the wire can be generated in the absence of charge current. Moreover, we observe electron pumping in a direction which does not coincide with the propagation direction of the pulse and the spin pumping direction (spin–charge separation). Additionally, on-site spin-flip processes significantly influence electron transport through the system and can also reverse the charge current direction.