Kondo effect in a semiconductor quantum dot coupled to ferromagnetic electrodes

K. Hamaya, M. Kitabatake, K. Shibata, M. Jung, M. Kawamura, K. Hirakawa, T. Machida, T. Taniyama, S. Ishida, Y. Arakawa

Published 2007-11-14, updated 2007-12-16Version 2

Using a laterally-fabricated quantum-dot (QD) spin-valve device, we experimentally study the Kondo effect in the electron transport through a semiconductor QD with an odd number of electrons (N). In a parallel magnetic configuration of the ferromagnetic electrodes, the Kondo resonance at N = 3 splits clearly without external magnetic fields. With applying magnetic fields (B), the splitting is gradually reduced, and then the Kondo effect is almost restored at B = 1.2 T. This means that, in the Kondo regime, an inverse effective magnetic field of B ~ 1.2 T can be applied to the QD in the parallel magnetic configuration of the ferromagnetic electrodes.