Quantum Dot as Spin Filter and Spin Memory

We consider a quantum dot in the Coulomb blockade regime weakly coupled to current leads and show that in the presence of a magnetic field it acts as an efficient spin filter (at the single-spin level), producing a spin-polarized current. Conversely, if the leads are fully spin polarized the up or the down state of the spin on the dot results in a large sequential or a small cotunneling current, and, thus, together with ESR techniques, the setup can be operated as a single-spin memory.