Strain-controlled spin and charge pumping in graphene devices via spin-orbit coupled barriers

¹ Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan - Zanjan 45371-38791, Iran
² Faculty of Physics, University of Tabriz - Tabriz 51666-16471, Iran

Received: 24 March 2015
Accepted: 16 September 2015

Abstract

We theoretically propose a graphene-based adiabatic quantum pump with intrinsic spin-orbit coupling (SOC) subject to strain where two time-dependent extrinsic spin-orbit coupled barriers drive spin and charge currents. We study three differing operation modes where i) location, ii) chemical potential, and iii) SOC of the two barriers oscillate periodically and out of phase around their equilibrium states. Our results demonstrate that the amplitude of adiabatically pumped currents highly depends on the considered operation mode. We find that such a device operates with highest efficiency and in a broader range of parameters where the barriers' chemical potential drives the quantum pump. Our results also reveal that by introducing strain to the system, one can suppress or enhance the charge and spin currents separately, depending on the strain direction.