Layer-number parity-dependent oscillatory spin transport in -Ga₂O₃ magnetic tunnel junctions

Spintronics devices have been a research hotspot due to their rich theoretical and application value. The widebandgap semiconductor beta-Ga2O3 has excellent application potential in spintronics due to the controllability of its electron behavior via ultraviolet light. This paper employs first-principles calculations and the Wenzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) approximation to comprehensively investigate spin transport based on magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) comprising beta-Ga2O3 nanosheets. The magnetic moment of the ferromagnetic layer in beta-Ga2O3 MTJs is found to be positively correlated with tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR). Interestingly, layer-number parity-dependent oscillation of TMR in beta-Ga2O3 MTJs is observed, which is explained by the non-equilibrium Green function and the WKB approximation. TMR reaches a maximum of 1077% at five layers, and bias-dependent stability is observed in the monolayer model under biases of 0-20 mV. This study not only expands the application potential of beta-Ga2O3 and predicts its superiority in spintronics but also enriches the related condensed matter theory.