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

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.