The spin-dependence of the interface resistance between ferromagnetic Fe and InAs is calculated from first-principles for specular and disordered (001) interfaces. Because of the symmetry mismatch in the minority-spin channel, the specular interface acts as an efficient spin filter with a transmitted current polarisation between 98 an 89%. The resistance of a specular interface in the diffusive regime is comparable to the resistance of a few microns of bulk InAs. Symmetry-breaking arising from interface disorder reduces the spin asymmetry substantially and we conclude that efficient spin injection from Fe into InAs can only be realized using high quality epitaxial interfaces.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0204422,
title = {Spin-injection through an Fe/InAs Interface},
author = {M. Zwierzycki and K. Xia and P. J. Kelly and G. E. W. Bauer and I. Turek},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0204422},
year = {2009}
}