Study unveils dependence of spin memory loss in a variety of interfaces

Phys.org  March 24, 2020
The discontinuity of a spin-current through an interface caused by spin-orbit coupling is characterized by the spin memory loss (SML). An international team of researchers (the Netherlands, Germany, UK, China) used first-principles scattering theory and a recently developed local current scheme to study the SML for Au/Pt, Au/Pd, Py/Pt and Co/Pt interfaces. They found a minimal temperature dependence for nonmagnetic interfaces and a strong dependence for interfaces involving ferromagnets that they attributed to the spin disorder. The SML is larger for Co/Pt than Py/Pt because the interface is more abrupt. Lattice mismatch and interface alloying strongly enhance the SML that is larger for an Au/Pt than for an Au/Pd interface. The effect of the proximity-induced magnetization of Pt is negligible. The observations and insights they gathered will guide the design of more effective interfaces with various possible applications…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE 1 ,  2 , 3,  4

Figure explaining the Spin Hall Effect. Credit: Gupta et al.

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