External Control of a Metal-Insulator Transition in GaMnAs Wires

Anh Kiet Nguyen, Arne Brataas

Published 2007-09-24, updated 2008-08-06Version 2

Quantum transport in disordered ferromagnetic (III,Mn)V semiconductors is studied theoretically. Mesoscopic wires exhibit an Anderson disorder-induced metal-insulator transition that can be controlled by a weak external magnetic field. This metal-insulator transition should also occur in other materials with large anisotropic magneto resistance effects. The transition can be useful for studies of zero-temperature quantum critical phase transitions and fundamental material properties.