Momentum-resolved tunneling: Spectroscopic tool and basis for device applications

Abstract

Recent advances in nanofabrication techniques have enabled the creation of extended uniform tunnel barriers between low-dimensional electron systems. Translational invariance implies approximate conservation of the component of canonical momentum parallel to the barrier in a single tunneling event. We briefly review possibilities to utilize momentum-resolved tunneling for novel spectro-scopic and device applications. In particular, it is shown how the interplay between momentum-resolved tunneling and spin-orbit coupling enables the design of a novel spin-filter device without using magnets.