The spin-polarized dwell time in a parallel double δ-magnetic-barrier nanostructure

Abstract

The dwell time of electrons in a parallel double δ-magnetic-barrier (MB) nanostructure constructed by patterning an asymmetric ferromagnetic stripe on both the top and bottom of an InAs/AlxIn1−xAs heterostructure is calculated. Because the electron spins interact with the structural magnetic fields, the dwell time depends on the electron spins. Moreover, both the magnitude and sign of the spin-polarized dwell time can be modified by changing the magnetic field, the applied voltage, and the separation between the two δ-MBs. The electron spins can thus be separated in the time dimension, and such a magnetic nanostructure could serve as a controllable temporal spin splitter for use in spintronics device applications.