Spin-orbit interaction in quantum dots and quantum wires of correlated electrons - A way to spintronics?

Abstract

We study the influence of the spin-orbit interaction on the electronic transport through quantum dots and quantum wires of correlated electrons. Starting with a one-dimensional infinite continuum model without Coulomb interaction, we analyze the interplay of the spin-orbit interaction, an external magnetic field, and an external potential leading to currents with significant spin-polarization in appropriate parameter regimes. Since lattice models are known to often be superior to continuum models in describing the experimental situation of low-dimensional mesoscopic systems, we construct a lattice model which exhibits the same low-energy physics in terms of energy dispersion and spin expectation values. Confining the lattice to finite length and connecting it to two semi-infinite noninteracting Fermi liquid leads, we calculate the zero temperature linear conductance using the Landauer-Büttiker formalism and show that spin-polarization effects also evolve for the lattice model by adding an adequate potential structure and can be controlled by tuning the overall chemical potential of the system (quantum wire and leads). Next, we allow for a finite Coulomb interaction and use the functional renormalization group (fRG) method to capture correlation effects induced by the Coulomb interaction. The interacting system is thereby transformed into a noninteracting system with renormalized system parameters. For short wires (~100 lattice sites), we show that the energy regime in which spin polarization is found is strongly affected by the Coulomb interaction. For long wires (>1000 lattice sites), we find the power-law suppression of the total linear conductance on low energy scales typical for inhomogeneous Luttinger liquids while the degree of spin polarization stays constant. Considering quantum dots which consist of two lattice sites, we observe the well-known Kondo effect and analyze, how the Kondo temperature is affected by the spin-orbit interaction. Moreover, we show how the linear conductance and the spin-polarization can be controlled by tuning the spin-orbit interaction in an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer with a quantum dot in one arm. Finally, an estimation of the magnitude of the spin-orbit interaction in e.g. semiconductor heterojunctions shows that the system parameters used in our simulations are achievable in experiments. Therefore, the theoretical results obtained in this thesis might also be observable experimentally pointing out the relevance for future spintronic applications.