Generation and detection of spin current in the three-terminal quantum dot

J Phys Condens Matter. 2009 Dec 2;21(49):495304. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/21/49/495304. Epub 2009 Nov 13.

Abstract

We propose a novel device composed of a quantum dot tunneling coupled to ferromagnetic, superconducting, and normal-metal leads. This device can generate, manipulate, and detect pure spin current through the interplay between the spin-polarized quantum transport and the Andreev reflection. The spin current in this device is a well-defined conserved current since there is no need for any spin-orbit coupling. The proposed device is realizable using present nanotechnology.