Transport spectroscopy of a spin-orbit-coupled spin to a quantum dot

Abstract

Electron spins in quantum dots can interact with impurity spins located in an adjacent region. This interaction may be controllable using external electric fields and it can involve an appreciable spin-orbit interaction (SOI) part affecting the expected operation of the dot spins. In this work we propose a method to quantify the interaction between a dot spin and a nearby spin by calculating the electrical current through the dot. We demonstrate some interesting regimes where the SOI can be detected, and find regimes of negative differential conductance which are sensitive to the strength of the SOI. The present study could be useful for spin-orbit qubits formed in quantum dot devices.