Controlling the flow of spin and charge currents in topological insulators (TIs) is a crucial requirement for applications in quantum computation and spin electronics. We demonstrate that such control can be established in nanoscopic two-dimensional TIs by breaking their time reversal symmetry via magnetic defects. This allows for the creation of nearly fully spin-polarized charge currents, and the design of highly tunable spin diodes. Similar effects can also be realized in mesoscale hybrid structures in which TIs interface with ferro- or antiferromagnets.
@article{arxiv.1509.08467,
title = {Controlling the Flow of Spin and Charge in Nanoscopic Topological Insulators},
author = {John S. Van Dyke and Dirk K. Morr},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1509.08467},
year = {2016}
}