Spin-Currents and Spin-Pumping Forces for Spintronics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a unified thermodynamic framework for understanding spin-pumping in spintronics, identifying multiple spin-currents and forces at interfaces, and analyzing their coupling with ferromagnetic dynamics.

Contribution

It proposes a generalized thermodynamic definition of spin-pumping forces and currents, and models the coupling between conduction electron spins and ferromagnetic order.

Findings

Identifies three types of spin-pumping forces and currents at interfaces.

Introduces a generalized force for ferromagnetic variables.

Describes the dynamical coupling as spin-transfer effects.

Abstract

A general definition of the Spintronics concept of spin-pumping is proposed as generalized forces conjugated to the spin degrees of freedom in the framework of the theory of mesoscopic non-equilibrium thermodynamics. It is shown that at least three different kinds of spin-pumping forces and associated spin-currents can be defined in the most simple spintronics system (the Ferromagnetic/Non-Ferromagnetic metal interface). Furthermore, the generalized force associated to the ferromagnetic collective variable is also introduced in an equal footing, in order to describe the coexistence of the spin of the conduction electrons (paramagnetic spins attached to $s$-band electrons) and the ferromagnetic-order parameter. The dynamical coupling between these two kinds of magnetic degrees of freedom is presented, and interpreted in terms of spin-transfer effects.