Remanent zero field spin splitting of self-assembled quantum dots in a paramagnetic host.

We report on the observation of a finite spin splitting at zero magnetic field in resonant tunneling experiments on CdSe self-assembled quantum dots in a (Zn,Be,Mn)Se barrier. This is remarkable since bulk II-VI dilute magnetic semiconductors are paramagnets. Our experiment may be viewed as tunneling through a single magnetic polaron, where the carriers contained inside the dot act to mediate an effective ferromagnetic interaction between Mn ions in their vicinity. The effect is observable up to relatively high temperatures, which we tentatively ascribe to a feedback mechanism with the electrical current, previously predicted theoretically.

Spin injection in the nonlinear regime: band bending effects.

We report on electrical spin-injection measurements into a nonmagnetic semiconductor in the nonlinear regime. For voltage drops across the interface larger than a few mV the spin-injection efficiency decreases strongly. The effect is caused by repopulation of the minority spin level in the magnetic semiconductor due to band bending at the interface.

Voltage-controlled spin selection in a magnetic resonant tunneling diode.

We have fabricated all II-VI semiconductor resonant tunneling diodes based on the (Zn,Mn,Be)Se material system, containing dilute magnetic material in the quantum well, and studied their current-voltage characteristics. When subjected to an external magnetic field the resulting spin splitting of the levels in the quantum well leads to a splitting of the transmission resonance into two separate peaks. This is interpreted as evidence of tunneling transport through spin polarized levels, and could be the first step towards a voltage controlled spin filter.