Quantum Transport in Ladder-Type Networks: Role of nonlinearity, topology and spin
Abstract
We investigate quantum transport of electrons, phase solitons, etc. through mesoscopic networks of zero-dimensional quantum dots. Straight and circular ladders are chosen as networks with each coupled with three semi-infinite leads (with one incoming and the other two outgoing). Two transmission probabilities (TPs) as a function of the incident energy ε show a transition from anti-phase aperiodic to degenerate periodic spectra at the critical energy εc which is determined by a bifurcation point of the bulk energy dispersions. TPs of the circular ladder depend only on the parity of the winding number. Introduction of a single missing bond (MB) or missing step doubles the period of the periodic spectra at ε>εc . Shift of the MB by lattice constant results in a striking switching effect at ε<εc. In the presence of the electric-field induced spin-orbit interaction (SOI), an obvious spin filtering occurs against the spin-unpolarized injection. Against the spin-polarized injection, on the other hand, the spin transport shows spin-flip (magnetization reversal) oscillations with respect to SOI. We also show a role of soliton in the context of its transport through the ladder networks.