A perfect spin-filter quantum dot system

The discovery of a novel effect in the transport through a QD spin-dependently coupled to magnetic contacts is reported. For a finite range of source-drain voltages the spin projections of the current cancel exactly, resulting in a completely suppressed output current. The spin down current behaves as one normally expects whereas the spin up current becomes negative. As the source-drain voltage is increased the spin up current eventually becomes positive. Thus, tuning the source-drain voltage such that the spin up current vanishes will result in a perfect spin filter.