A first-principles linear response description of the spin Nernst effect

TL;DR

This paper develops a first-principles theoretical framework to describe the spin Nernst effect, enabling detailed analysis of spin currents induced by temperature gradients in alloys.

Contribution

It extends the Kubo-Streda formalism to spin transport and provides a method to distinguish intrinsic and extrinsic contributions in alloy systems.

Findings

Applied to Au-Cu alloys, identified intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to spin Nernst coefficients.

Used scaling laws to separate extrinsic effects into skew scattering and side-jump mechanisms.

Established a formal basis for future investigations of spin transport in complex materials.

Abstract

A first-principles description of the spin Nernst effect, denoting the occurrence of a transverse spin current due to a temperature gradient, is presented. The approach, based on an extension to the Kubo-Streda equation for spin transport, supplies in particular the formal basis for investigations of diluted as well as concentrated alloys. Results for corresponding applications to the alloy system Au-Cu give the intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to the relevant transport coefficients. Using scaling laws allows in addition to split the extrinsic contribution into its skew scattering and side-jump parts.