Spin rotation, spin filtering, and spin transfer in directional tunneling through barriers in noncentrosymmetric semiconductors

Abstract

We discuss possible tunneling phenomena associated with complex wave vectors along directions where the spin degeneracy is lifted in noncentrosymetric semiconductors. We show that the result drastically depends on the direction. In the [110] direction, no solution can be calculated in the usual way assuming that the wave function and its derivative are continuous. A method for obtaining physical solutions is given and consequences are drawn. As a result, there is no spin filtering in such a direction but the spin undergoes a precession through the barrier with the rotation angle being proportional to the barrier thickness. In a direction close to [001] we find a spin-filter effect in close agreement with the model discussed by Perel' et al. [Phys. Rev. B 67, 201304(R) (2003)].