Magnetoelectric control of valley and spin in a silicene nanoribbon modulated by the magnetic superlattices

• Published in: Physics letters. A Vol. 379; no. 7; pp. 723 - 727
• Main Author: An, Xing-Tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 20.03.2015
• Subjects: Degrees of freedom; Ferromagnetism; Magnetoresistance; Magnetoresistivity; Mathematical analysis; Nanostructure; Superlattices; Tunneling; Valleys
• ISSN: 0375-9601; 1873-2429
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physleta.2014.11.059

The control of valley and spin degrees of freedom and the transport properties of electrons in a zigzag silicene nanoribbon modulated by the magnetic superlattices are investigated theoretically. Due to the valley–spin locking effect in silicene, the valley degree of freedom can be controlled by magnetic means. The valley or/and spin selection induced by the exchange field result in the perfect spin–valley filter and tunneling magnetoresistance effect in the double ferromagnetic barriers on the surface of the silicene nanoribbon. It is more interesting that there are valley-resolved minigaps and minibands in the zigzag silicene nanoribbon modulated by the magnetic superlattices which give rise to the periodically modulated spin (or/and valley) polarization and tunneling magnetoresistance. The results obtained may have certain practical significance in applications for future valleytronic and spintronic devices. •The valley can be controlled by a magnetic field in silicene.•The valley-resolved miniband transport is studied in the silicene superlattices.•There are the perfect spin–valley filter and tunneling magnetoresistance effect.