Spin-orbit pumping

TL;DR

This paper theoretically demonstrates that a rotating electric field can induce a measurable spin polarization in a diffusive nanowire, analogous to spin pumping by magnetic fields, through electron spin coupling to effective magnetic fields.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical mechanism showing how rotating electric fields generate spin polarization in diffusive systems, expanding understanding of spin control methods.

Findings

Finite magnetization along rotation axis in diffusive nanowires

Generation of measurable spin-voltage of tens of microvolts

Analytical and physical demonstration of spin pumping effect

Abstract

We study theoretically the effect of a rotating electric field on a diffusive nanowire and find an effect that is analogous to spin pumping, which refers to the generation of spin through a rotating magnetic field. The electron spin couples to the electric field because the particle motion induces an effective magnetic field in its rest frame. In a diffusive system the velocity of the particle, and therefore also its effective magnetic field, rapidly and randomly changes direction. Nevertheless, we demonstrate analytically and via a physical argument why the combination of the two effects described above produces a finite magnetization along the axis of rotation. This manifests as a measurable spin-voltage in the range of tens of microvolts.