A Spin-Mechanical Device for Detection and Control of Spin Current by Nanomechanical Torque

TL;DR

This paper introduces a hybrid nano-electro-mechanical device that leverages mechanical torque to detect and control spin currents, enabling new ways to measure and induce spin polarization through mechanical means.

Contribution

It presents a novel spin-mechanical device that uses nanomechanical torque to both detect and manipulate spin currents, bridging spintronics and nanomechanics.

Findings

Mechanical torque can measure spin flips.

Applied torque can induce spin polarization.

Device enables control of spin currents via mechanical means.

Abstract

We propose a spin-mechanical device to control and detect spin currents by mechanical torque. Our hybrid nano-electro-mechanical device, which contains a nanowire with a ferromagnetic-nonmagnetic interface, is designed to measure or induce spin polarized currents. Since spin carries angular momentum, a spin flip or spin transfer process involves a change in angular momentum--and hence, a torque--which enables mechanical measurement of spin flips. Conversely, an applied torque can result in spin polarization and spin current.