An Adiabatic Quantum Pump of Spin Polarized Current

Abstract

We propose a mechanism by which an open quantum dot driven by two ac (radio frequency) gate voltages in the presence of a moderate in-plane magnetic field generates a spin polarized, phase coherent dc current. The idea combines adiabatic, non-quantized (but coherent) pumping through periodically modulated external parameters and the strong fluctuations of the electron wave function existent in chaotic cavities. We estimate that the spin polarization of the current can be observed for temperatures and Zeeman splitting energies of the order of the single-particle mean level spacing.