Spin-flip reflection of electrons from a potential barrier in heterostructures

Abstract

Spin-conserving and spin-flip opaque reflections of electrons from a potential barrier in heterostructures are described. An electric field of the barrier is considered to be the only source of energy spin splitting in the presence of spin-orbit interaction and its form is calculated in the three-level {\kp} model for a nontrival case of unbound electrons. Reflection angles and amplitudes are calculated for oblique incoming directions. It is shown that the system can serve as a source or filter of spin-polarized electron beams. Two unexpected possibilities are pointed out: a) non attenuated electron propagation in the barrier whose height exceeds the energies of incoming electrons, b) total reflection of electrons whose energies exceed barrier's height.