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Generation of pure spin currents by superconducting proximity effect in quantum dots

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Published 3 September 2010 Europhysics Letters Association
, , Citation D. Futterer et al 2010 EPL 91 47004 DOI 10.1209/0295-5075/91/47004

0295-5075/91/4/47004

Abstract

We investigate electronic transport in a three-terminal hybrid system, composed by an interacting quantum dot tunnel coupled to one superconducting, one ferromagnetic, and one normal lead. Despite the tendency of the charging energy to suppress the superconducting proximity effect when the quantum dot is in equilibrium, the non-equilibrium proximity effect can give rise to a large Andreev current. The presence of the ferromagnet can lead to a finite spin accumulation on the dot. We find that the interplay of the Andreev current and spin accumulation can generate a pure spin current, with no associated charge transport, in the normal lead. This situation is realised by tuning the quantum-dot spectrum by means of a gate voltage.

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