Generation of Spin Current from Lattice Distortion Dynamics: Spin-Orbit Routes

TL;DR

This paper investigates how lattice distortion dynamics in metals generate spin currents through spin-orbit coupling, revealing two main mechanisms and highlighting their potential significance in systems with strong spin-orbit effects.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for spin-current generation from lattice distortions considering spin-orbit coupling, identifying two distinct routes and comparing their magnitudes.

Findings

Spin currents can be generated via spin Hall effect and spin accumulation.

The effect can be comparable or larger than spin-vorticity coupling in strong spin-orbit systems.

Lattice distortion dynamics provide a new pathway for spin current generation.

Abstract

Generation of spin current from lattice distortion dynamics in metals is studied with special attention on the effect of spin-orbit coupling. Treating the lattice distortion by local coordinate transformation, we calculate spin current and spin accumulation with the linear response theory. It is found that there are two routes to the spin-current generation, one via the spin Hall effect and the other via the spin accumulation. The present effect due to spin-orbit coupling can be comparable to, or even larger than, the one based on the spin-vorticity coupling in systems with strong spin-orbit coupling.