Quantum Scattering Theory of Spin Transfer Torque, Spin Pumping and Fluctuations

TL;DR

This paper develops a quantum path-integral model to unify understanding of spin transfer torque and spin pumping, revealing fluctuation effects at finite temperature and quantum regimes, with implications for low-temperature spintronics and spin caloritronics.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive quantum out-of-equilibrium framework that extends classical models to include fluctuations and additional transport coefficients in spintronics phenomena.

Findings

Agreement with classical expressions in the absence of fluctuations

Identification of quantum fluctuation effects at low temperatures

Estimation of fluctuation coefficients for various junction types

Abstract

Spin transfer torque and spin pumping are central reciprocal phenomena in spintronics. These phenomena occur in hybrid systems of normal metals and magnets. Spin transfer is the conversion of spin currents in metals to a torque on the magnetization of magnets. Spin pumping is the emission of spin currents from precessing magnets. Here, we demonstrate a general way to understand these effects within a quantum out-of-equilibrium path-integral model. Our results agree with known expressions for spin transfer and spin pumping in terms of transverse (mixing) conductances when there are no fluctuations. However, at a finite temperature, frequency or spin accumulation, the magnet also experiences fluctuating torques. In the classical regime, when the thermal energy is larger than the bias voltage and precession frequency, we reproduce the classical Brownian-Langevin forces associated with spin transfer and spin pumping. At low temperatures, in the quantum regime, we demonstrate that magnetization fluctuations differ in the elastic and inelastic electron transport regimes. Furthermore, we show how additional transport coefficients beyond the mixing conductance govern the fluctuations. Some of these coefficients are related to electron shot noise because of the discrete spin angular momentum of electrons. We estimate the fluctuation coefficients of clean, tunnel, and disordered junctions and in the case of an insulating magnet. Our results open a path for exploring low-temperature magnetization dynamics and spin caloritronics.