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Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 206801 (2004) [4 pages]

Positive Cross Correlations in a Three-Terminal Quantum Dot with Ferromagnetic Contacts

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A. Cottet, W. Belzig, and C. Bruder
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland

Received 31 July 2003; published 19 May 2004

We study current fluctuations in an interacting three-terminal quantum dot with ferromagnetic leads. For appropriately polarized contacts, the transport through the dot is governed by dynamical spin blockade, i.e., a spin-dependent bunching of tunneling events not present in the paramagnetic case. This leads, for instance, to positive zero-frequency cross correlations of the currents in the output leads even in the absence of spin accumulation on the dot. We include the influence of spin-flip scattering and identify favorable conditions for the experimental observation of this effect with respect to polarization of the contacts and tunneling rates.

© 2004 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.206801
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.206801
PACS:
73.23.–b, 72.70.+m, 72.25.Rb