Comparison of Measured and Calculated Specific Resistances of Pd/Pt Interfaces

TL;DR

This study compares measured and calculated specific resistances of Pd/Pt interfaces, finding good agreement and estimating spin-flipping probability, thereby validating theoretical models for such metal interfaces.

Contribution

It provides the first direct comparison between experimental measurements and no-free-parameter calculations for Pd/Pt interface resistances, confirming theoretical predictions.

Findings

Measured 2AR values are consistent with calculations.

Estimated spin-flipping probability at Pd/Pt interfaces is 0.13.

Results support previous agreement between theory and experiment for similar metal pairs.

Abstract

We compare specific resistances (AR equals area A times resistance R) of sputtered Pd/Pt interfaces measured in two different ways with no-free-parameter calculations. One way gives 2AR(Pd/Pt) of 0.29 (0.03) fohm-m(2) and the other 0.17 (0.13) fohm-m(2). From these we derive a best estimate of 2AR(Pd/Pt) of 0.28 (0.06) fohm-m(2), which overlaps with no-free-parameter calculations: 2AR(predicted) of 0.30 (0.04) fohm-m(2) for flat, perfect interfaces, or 0.33 (0.04) fohm-m(2) for interfaces composed of 2 monolayers of a 50percent-50percent PdPt alloy. These results support three prior examples of agreement between calculations and measurements for pairs of metals having the same crystal structure and the same lattice parameter to within 1 percent. We also estimate the spin-flipping probability at Pd/Pt interfaces as 0.13 (0.08).