Spin-dependent electron grating effect from helical magnetization in multiferroic tunnel junctions

Abstract

In multiferroic oxides with a transverse helical magnetic order, the magnetization exchange coupling is sinusoidally space-dependent. We theoretically investigate the spin-dependent electron grating effect in normal-metal/helical-multiferroic/ferromagnettic heterojunctions. The spin wave vector of the spiral can be added or subtracted from the electron spacial wave vector inducing spin-conserved and spin-flipped diffracted transmission and reflection. The predicted grating effect can be controlled by magnetization exchange coupling strength, the helicity spatial period, and the magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer.