Large Magnetoresistance Induced by Quantum Charge Fluctuations in Magnetic Double Dots

Abstract

We study electron tunneling through two small ferromagnetic dots. Quantum charge fluctuations and interdot coupling make each Coulomb peak of the conductance at zero interdot coupling split across. The interdot tunnel coupling is determined by the relative orientation of magnetizations of the two dots, leading to different splitting energies of the Coulomb peaks in parallel and antiparallel magnetization alignments. As a result, a very large tunneling magnetoresistance occurs near the Coulomb peaks, and its sign may be either positive or negative.