Unidirectional heat current through a one-dimensional quantum spin heterostructure

We investigate thermal transport through a quantum spin- heterostructure, in which a semi-infinite chain with two-site isotropic XY interaction couples to the other semiinfinite chain with two-site isotropic XY interaction and three-site XZX+YZY interaction. By studying the dependence of the transmission ability on the model parameters, the linear and nonlinear thermal transport properties are discussed in detail. We find the rectification effects of the heat current in the case of different magnetic fields applied at the two chains; moreover, the unidirectional heat current is observed in the presence of appropriate structure parameters. With these results, we propose such a structure to be a promising candidate for heat current rectification.