Using Single Quantum States as Spin Filters to Study Spin Polarization in Ferromagnets

Abstract

By measuring electron tunneling between a ferromagnet and individual energy levels in an aluminum quantum dot, we show how spin-resolved quantum states can be used as filters to determine spin-dependent tunneling rates. We also observe magnetic-field-dependent shifts in the magnet’s electrochemical potential relative to the dot’s energy levels. The shifts vary between samples and are generally smaller than expected from the magnet’s spin-polarized density of states. We suggest that they are affected by field-dependent charge redistribution at the magnetic interface.