Typically, manipulations of electronic spin currents require length scales larger than the length of individual atoms. However, when spin transport is confined to atomic-scale constrictions it is very sensitive to the fine details of the local electronic structure. We use this sensitivity to demonstrate perfect spin filtering in nickel-oxide atomic junctions and tunable giant anisotropic magnetoresistance in molecular junctions. The presented effects are achieved by different manifestations of selective orbital hybridization, paving the way for controlled atomic scale spin transport.
Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel