Electric-field manipulation of spin states in confined non-magnetic/magnetic heterostructures

The energy spectrum and states of an electron in a non-magnetic/magnetic heterostructure placed between two materials (e.g. oxides) acting as barriers is studied in the presence of a magnetic field perpendicular or parallel to the well. A potential step is formed at the interface between the non-magnetic and magnetic material in the presence of a magnetic field since spin-up electrons see a barrier whereas the spin-down ones see a well. A rich band structure is obtained which can be tuned by a perpendicular electric field. Numerical results are presented for a ZnSe/Zn1-xMnx Se heterostructure and their pertinence to spin-polarized transport is pointed out.