Spin-polarized ballistic transport in a thin superlattice of zinc blende half-metallic compounds

Date
2005
Authors
Qian, M. C.
Fong, C. Y.
Pickett, W. E.
Pask, J. E.
Yang, L. H.
Dag, S.
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Source Title
Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Print ISSN
1098-0121
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Publisher
The American Physical Society
Volume
71
Issue
1
Pages
Language
English
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Abstract

We examine theoretically ballistic conduction in thin layers of zinc blende half metals, considering as an example a superlattice consisting of monolayers of GaAs and MnAs, a bilayer of CrAs, and a bilayer of GaAs. By artificially separating bilayers, we show that surface states thwart half metallicity. However, capping the metal-As bilayers restores half metallicity, and ballistic conduction of electrons within ∼0.3 eV of the Fermi level will give nearly 100% spin-polarized transmission in the direction of the superlattice. Recent developments suggest atomic layer epitaxy can be used to produce such thin layers for spintronic applications.

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