Spin-to-charge conversion using Rashba coupling at the interface between non-magnetic materials

Sánchez, J.C.R. ; Vila, L. ; Desfonds, G. ; Gambarelli, S. ; Attané, J.P. ; De Teresa, J.M. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Magén, C. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Fert, A.

Resumen: The Rashba effect is an interaction between the spin and the momentum of electrons induced by the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in surface or interface states. Its potential for conversion between charge and spin currents has been theoretically predicted but never clearly demonstrated for surfaces or interfaces of metals. Here we present experiments evidencing a large spin-charge conversion by the Bi/Ag Rashba interface. We use spin pumping to inject a spin current from a NiFe layer into a Bi/Ag bilayer and we detect the resulting charge current. As the charge signal is much smaller (negligible) with only Bi (only Ag), the spin-to-charge conversion can be unambiguously ascribed to the Rashba coupling at the Bi/Ag interface. This result demonstrates that the Rashba effect at interfaces can be used for efficient charge-spin conversion in spintronics.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3944

Año: 2013

Publicado en: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS 4 (2013), 2944 [7 pp]
ISSN: 2041-1723

Factor impacto JCR: 10.742 (2013)

Categ. JCR: MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES rank: 3 / 56 = 0.054 (2013) - Q1 - T1

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/MAT2011-27553-C02

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Física de la Materia Condensada (Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada)