Spin and charge transport in material with spin-dependent conductivity

TL;DR

This paper investigates spin and charge transport in materials with spin-dependent conductivity, revealing effects like charge accumulation, interaction between currents, and potential for new spintronic device designs.

Contribution

It introduces new insights into spin-charge interactions and effects such as gain/damping of spin currents, with implications for spintronic device development.

Findings

Charge accumulation along spin diffusion shortens spin diffusion length.

Interaction between drift and diffusion currents is significant in semiconductors.

Existence of a threshold spin current in semiconductors.

Abstract

The spin and charge transport in materials with spin-dependent conductivity has been studied. It was shown that there is a charge accumulation along spin diffusion in a ferromagnetic metal, which causes a shortening of the spin diffusion length. It was shown that there is a substantial interaction between the drift and diffusion currents in semiconductors. The effects of gain/damping of a spin current by a charge current and the existence of a threshold spin current in a semiconductor were described. Because of the substantial magnitude, these new spintronics effect might be used for new designs of efficient spintronic devices. The influence of a spin drain on spin transport was discussed.