ABSTRACT
When a small object (further quantum dot or QD) is connected
through weakly transparent barriers to macroscopic ferromagnetic
leads, electron interaction or confinement effects emerge. The
spin dependent transport and noise then become qualitatively
different from those discussed for the double-barrier magnetic
tunnel junctions. The experimental fabrication of such a device is
a great challenge because the need of contacting small (often nm
size) objects to the extended ferromagnetic electrodes. Evidently,
the nm size ferromagnetic leads terminations would most probably
be paramagnetic at room temperature. Studies of electron transport
and noise in QD-based spintronic devices are currently mostly of
academic character.
