Ferromagnetic Spin Coupling as the Origin of 0.7 Anomaly in Quantum Point Contacts

We study one-dimensional itinerant electron models with ferromagnetic coupling to investigate the origin of the 0.7 anomaly in quantum point contacts. Linear conductance calculations from the quantum Monte Carlo technique for spin interactions of different spatial range suggest that 0.7(2e²/h) anomaly results from a strong interaction of low-density conduction electrons to ferromagnetic fluctuations formed across the potential barrier. The conductance plateau appears due to the strong incoherent scattering at high temperature when the electron traversal time matches the time scale of dynamic ferromagnetic excitations.