title: Spontaneous spin polarization in quantum point contacts.
abstract: We use spatial spin separation by a magnetic focusing technique to probe the polarization of quantum point contacts. The point contacts are fabricated from p-type GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures. A finite polarization is measured in the low-density regime, when the conductance of a point contact is tuned to < 2e2/h. Polarization is stronger in samples with a well-defined "0.7 structure."
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Rokhinson
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: West