Manipulating spin polarization via spin-orbit coupling in a magnetic microstructure constructed on surface of semiconductor heterostructure

•Spin-polarized transport is theoretically explored for electrons in the single-FM-stripe device.•An evident spin polarization effect appears due to a broken intrinsic symmetry by the SOC.•Degree of spin polarization can be modified by interfacial confining electric field or strain engineering.•The single-FM-stripe device can serve as an electrically/strain-controllable spin filter for spintronics device applications. A controllable spin filter is proposed by theoretically investigating spin polarization in a magnetic microstructure constructed on surface of GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs heterostructure by patterning a horizontally-magnetized ferromagnetic stripe. Due to a broken intrinsic symmetry by spin-orbit coupling, a spin polarization effect appears in the magnetic microstructure. Degree of spin polarization can be modified by changing strength of spin-orbit coupling, which may be helpful for design of controllable spin-polarized source.