![Generation, transport and manipulation of spin currents in metals](/++theme++dipc-theme/img/event_image_urdina.png)
# Generation, transport and manipulation of spin currents in metals
** **
_F. Casanova_ 1,2
1 _Nanodevices Group,CIC nanoGUNE, 20018, San Sebastian, Basque Country
(Spain)_
2 _IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011, Bilbao, Basque Country
(Spain)_
_f.casanova@nanogune.eu_ __
Spintronics is a rapidly growing research area that aims at using and
manipulating the spin of the electron. There is special interest in the
creation, transport and manipulation of pure spin currents as an alternative
to conventional electronics.
One of the most robust experimental approaches is by using lateral spin valves
(LSV). LSVs allow injection of a charge current from a ferromagnetic (FM)
injector into a non-magnetic (NM) channel and measure the spin accumulation as
a voltage from a second FM electrode by using a non-local geometry. We have
optimized a nanofabrication process that yields highly reproducible LSV
devices, crucial for reliable studies [1-3]. These studies include: i) the
spin injection efficiency of different FM metals [1]; ii) quantification of
the contributions to the spin relaxation in the NM channel [2]; iii)
measurement of the Hanle effect (spin precession with an external magnetic
field). With LSV devices we have also recently proposed a novel manipulation
of spin currents with a magnetic gate, based on the spin-mixing conductance
concept [3].
Alternatively, another promising effect is being studied for the spin current
generation and detection: the spin Hall effect (SHE). This is a spin-dependent
phenomenon appearing in materials with strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in
which a charge current flowing through a non-magnetic material creates a spin
current in the transverse direction to the charge current [4]. Reciprocally,
a spin current through a non-magnetic material creates a transverse charge
current (inverse SHE). We have studied the SHE in materials such as Pt and Au,
and analyzed the dominant scattering mechanisms behind the SHE in these metals
[4]. Finally, we have also studied the SHE in Bi, a semimetal with more exotic
properties. Our results evidence that the observed spin-to-charge current
conversion arises from the inverse Rashba-Edelstein effect occurring at the Bi
surface, rather than the inverse SHE occurring at the bulk of Bi [5].
[1] E. Villamor _et al._ , Phys. Rev. B **88** , 184411 (2013).
[2] E. Villamor _et al._ , Phys. Rev. B **87** , 094417 (2013).
[3] E. Villamor _et al._ , arXiv: 1404.2311 (2014).
[4] M. Isasa _et al._ , arXiv: 1407.4770 (2014).
[5] M. Isasa _et al._ , arXiv: 1409.8540 (2014).