Spin transport of electrons and holes in a metal and in a semiconductor

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electrons and holes transport spin and charge in metals and semiconductors, revealing opposite spin directions and explaining the origin of electron and hole concepts based on spin properties.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of spin and charge transport using Boltzmann equations, highlighting differences between electrons and holes in metals and semiconductors.

Findings

Electrons and holes carry spin in opposite directions in electrical currents.

Spin polarization in metals is smaller than in electron gases.

Spin properties underpin the concept of electrons and holes.

Abstract

The features of the spin and charge transport of electrons and holes in a metal and a semiconductor were studied using the Boltzmann transport equations. It was shown that the electrons and holes carry the spin in opposite directions in an electrical current. As result, the spin polarization of an electrical current in a metal is substantially smaller than spin polarization of electron gas. It was shown that the spin properties of the electron gas are responsible for the existence of the concept of "electrons" and "holes" in a metal and a semiconductor.