TMR and spin-dependent transport of polyacetylene-based magnetic junctions

A numerical study is presented that investigates the spin-dependent transport through a trans-polyacetylene (trans-PA) molecule sandwiched between ferromagnetic (FM) contacts. Using the tight-binding procedure and in the framework of a generalized Green's function technique, the room temperature current-voltage characteristics of the trans-PA molecule and the tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) of the electrode/trans-PA/electrode structure, with iron (Fe) as the electrode, are studied. It is found that the parallel arrangement of magnetic moments in FM electrodes causes a much higher current through the polyacetylene molecule than does the anti-parallel arrangement. Also, our results indicate that TMR has its maximum value (more than 60%) at low bias voltages.