Magnetotransport in InSb nanowires with ferromagnetic contacts

InSb semiconductor nanowires are a promising and intensely-studied platform for investigating Majorana bound states [1]. Their strong spin-orbit coupling also makes them interesting for all-electrical control of single spins [2]. Moreover, owing to their relatively long mean free paths and quasi-one-dimensionality, InSb nanowires also have great potential for novel devices which could allow electrical control of spin currents. Motivated by these intriguing possibilities, we fabricated InSb nanowire devices with ferromagnetic contacts, which show evidence of ballistic transport. We report hysteretic features in the magneto-conductance measured at different back-gate voltages, and discuss the possible physical mechanisms responsible for these observations.
[1] V. Mourik et al., Science 336, 1003 (2012).
[2] V. S. Pribiag et al., Nat. Nanotechnol. 8, 170 (2013).