Bulk electron spin polarization generated by the spin Hall current

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the spin Hall current can produce a non-equilibrium bulk electron spin polarization within crystals, independent of spin-orbit interaction strength, revealing a new method for generating high spin polarization.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism where spin Hall currents induce steady state spin polarization unaffected by spin-orbit coupling strength.

Findings

Spin Hall current generates non-equilibrium spin polarization inside crystals.

Steady state polarization is independent of spin-orbit interaction strength.

Potential for high spin polarization even with weak spin-orbit coupling.

Abstract

It is shown that the spin Hall current generates a non-equilibrium spin polarization in the interior of crystals with reduced symmetry in a way that is drastically different from the previously well-known equilibrium polarization during the spin relaxation process. The steady state spin polarization value does not depend on the strength of spin-orbit interaction offering possibility to generate relatively high spin polarization even in the case of weak spin-orbit coupling.