Electrically Controllable Kondo Correlation in Spin-Orbit-Coupled Quantum Point Contacts
L. W. Smith, Hongbin Chen, Che‐Wei Chang, Chien-Wei Wu, Shun‐Tsung Lo, Shih-Hsiang Chao, I. Farrer, Harvey E. Beere, Jonathan Griffiths, G. A. C. Jones, D. A. Ritchie, Yueh-Nan Chen, Tse‐Ming Chen
Abstract
Integrating the Kondo correlation and spin-orbit interactions, each of which have individually offered unprecedented means to manipulate electron spins, in a controllable way can open up new possibilities for spintronics. We demonstrate electrical control of the Kondo correlation by coupling the bound spin to leads with tunable Rashba spin-orbit interactions, realized in semiconductor quantum point contacts. We observe a transition from single to double peak zero-bias anomalies in nonequilibrium transport-the manifestation of the Kondo effect-indicating a controlled Kondo spin reversal using only spin-orbit interactions. Universal scaling of the Kondo conductance is demonstrated, implying that the spin-orbit interactions could enhance the Kondo temperature. A theoretical model based on quantum master equations is also developed to calculate the nonequilibrium quantum transport.