Spin current and current-induced spin transfer torque in ferromagnet-quantum dot-ferromagnet coupled systems

Hai-Feng Mu, Gang Su,* and Qing-Rong Zheng

College of Physical Sciences, Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 4588, Beijing 100049, China

Received 26 September 2005; revised manuscript received 16 December 2005; published 10 February 2006

ABSTRACT

Based on Keldysh’s nonequilibrium Green function method, the spin-dependent transport properties in a ferromagnet–quantum dot (QD)–ferromagnet coupled system are investigated. It is shown the spin current shows quite different characteristics from its electrical counterpart, and by changing the relative orientation of both magnetizations, it can change its magnitude and even sign. The current-induced spin transfer torque (CISTT) is uncovered to be greatly enhanced when the bias voltage meets with the discrete levels of the QD at resonant positions. The relationship between the CISTT, the electrical current, and the spin current, is also addressed.

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