This article presents an overview of results pertaining to electronic structure, transport properties, and interaction effects in ballistic quantum wires with Rashba spin splitting. Limits of weak and strong spin–orbit coupling are distinguished, and spin properties of the electronic states elucidated. The case of strong Rashba spin splitting where the spin–precession length is comparable to th...

The spin-polarized transport in a single-molecule magnet Fe4 sandwiched between two gold electrodes is studied, using nonequilibrium Green's functions in combination with the density-functional theory. We predict that the device possesses spin filter effect (SFE), spin valve effect (SVE), and negative differential resistance (NDR) behavior. Moreover, we also find that the appropriate chemical l...

The magnetization of a magnetic material can be reversed by using electric currents that transport spin angular momentum. In the reciprocal process a changing magnetization orientation produces currents that transport spin angular momentum. Understanding how these processes occur reveals the intricate connection between magnetization and spin transport, and can transform technologies that gener...

Density functional calculations of the fermiology and magnetic properties of Ca3Ru2O7 reveal an unusual state: a bulk spin valve. The ground state consists of nearly half-metallic bilayers stacked antiferromagnetically with a weak coupling. Out of plane transport is very strongly suppressed by the antiferromagnetic alignment, which can be destroyed in favor of ferromagnetism at low energy cost....

We describe neutron scattering, NMR relaxation, and thermal transport properties of Z2 spin liquids in two dimensions. Comparison to recent experiments on the spin S = 1/2 triangular lattice antiferromagnet in κ-(ET)2Cu2(CN)3 shows that this compound may realize a Z2 spin liquid. We argue that the topological ‘vison’ excitations dominate thermal transport, and that recent thermal conductivity e...

We theoretically investigate spin transfer between a system of quasiequilibrated Bose-Einstein-condensed magnons in an insulator in direct contact with a conductor. While charge transfer is prohibited across the interface, spin transport arises from the exchange coupling between insulator and conductor spins. In a normal insulator phase, spin transport is governed solely by the presence of ther...

Spin pumping enables the vertical transport of pure spin current throughAl in a Pd/Al/Ni80Fe20(Py) trilayer film, inwhich the Py acts as a spin battery. The spin current injected into the Al flows through theAl to reach the Pd, resulting in the generation of electromotive forces due to the inverse spin Hall effect in the Pd. The electromotive forces decreased with increasing thickness of the Al...

Recent work suggests that electrons can travel through DNA and other chiral molecules in a spin-selective manner, but little is known about the origin of this spin selectivity. Here we describe experiments on magnetized DNA-modified electrodes to explore spin-selective electron transport through hydrated duplex DNA. Our results show that the two spins migrate through duplex DNA with a different...

We describe neutron scattering, NMR relaxation, and thermal transport properties of Z2 spin liquids in two dimensions. Comparison to recent experiments on the spin S=1/2 triangular lattice antiferromagnet in kappa-(ET)2Cu2(CN)3 shows that this compound may realize a Z2 spin liquid. We argue that the topological "vison" excitations dominate thermal transport, and that recent thermal conductivity...