Reciprocity in diffusive spin-current circuits

TL;DR

This paper establishes reciprocity relations in diffusive spin-current circuits, showing that spin transmissions are symmetric in multi-terminal devices and revealing limitations on certain proposed effects.

Contribution

It introduces reciprocity relations for the conductance matrix in multi-terminal spintronic devices with normal and ferromagnetic elements.

Findings

Reciprocity equates spin transmissions in opposite directions.

Certain effects in geometric spin ratchets are proven impossible.

The work relates to and extends spintronic circuit theory.

Abstract

Similarly to their purely electric counterparts, spintronic circuits may be presented as networks of lumped elements. Due to interplay between spin and charge currents, each element is described by a matrix conductance. We establish reciprocity relations between the entries of the conductance matrix of a multi-terminal linear device, comprising normal metallic and strong ferromagnetic elements with spin-inactive interfaces between them. In particular, reciprocity equates the spin transmissions through a two-terminal element in the opposite directions. When applied to "geometric spin ratchets", reciprocity shows that certain effects, announced for such devices, are, in fact, impossible. Finally, we discuss the relation between our work and the spintronic circuit theory formalism.