Coulomb promotion of spin-dependent tunneling

Journal article, 2005

We study transport of spin-polarized electrons through a magnetic single-electron transistor (SET) in the presence of an external magnetic field. Assuming the SET to have a nanometer size central island with a single-electron level we find that the interplay on the island between coherent spin-flip dynamics and Coulomb interactions can make the Coulomb correlations promote rather than suppress the current through the device. We find the criteria for this new phenomenon-Coulomb promotion of spin-dependent tunneling-to occur. © 2005 The American Physical Society.