Charge and spin pumping through a double quantum dot

Abstract

We calculate adiabatic charge and spin pumping through a serial double quantum dot with strong Coulomb interaction, coupled to normal metal or ferromagnetic contacts. We use a real-time diagrammatic approach in the regime of weak coupling to the reservoirs. In the case of weak interdot tunnel coupling we investigate the influence of tunnel-induced renormalization effects due to charge fluctuations on the pumped charge and spin. We show that tunneling through thermally excited states can play an important role in the strong interdot coupling regime. In particular, for ferromagnetic contacts, both effects enable the generation of pure spin currents. Furthermore they can lead to an inverted spin-valve effect or even to the inversion of the transport direction going along with a diverging tunneling magnetoresistance.