Stern–Gerlach spin filter using surface acoustic waves

We propose the ambipolar carrier transport by surface acoustic waves (SAWs) in a semiconductor quantum well (QW) for the realization of the Stern–Gerlach (SG) experiment in the solid phase. The well-defined and very low carrier velocity in the moving SAW field leads to a large deflection angle and thus to efficient spin separation, even for the weak field gradients and short (μm-long) interaction lengths that can be produced by micromagnets. The feasibility of a SG spin filter is discussed for different QW materials.