Current-induced polarization and the spin Hall effect at room temperature

Electrically induced electron spin polarization is imaged in n-type ZnSe epilayers using Kerr rotation spectroscopy. Despite no evidence for an electrically induced internal magnetic field, current-induced in-plane spin polarization is observed with characteristic spin lifetimes that decrease with d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2006-09, Vol.97 (12), p.126603-126603, Article 126603
Main Authors: Stern, N P, Ghosh, S, Xiang, G, Zhu, M, Samarth, N, Awschalom, D D
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Electrically induced electron spin polarization is imaged in n-type ZnSe epilayers using Kerr rotation spectroscopy. Despite no evidence for an electrically induced internal magnetic field, current-induced in-plane spin polarization is observed with characteristic spin lifetimes that decrease with doping density. The spin Hall effect is also observed, indicated by an electrically induced out-of-plane spin polarization with opposite sign for spins accumulating on opposite edges of the sample. The spin Hall conductivity is estimated as 3+/-1.5 Omega(-1) m(-1)/|e| at 20 K, which is consistent with the extrinsic mechanism. Both the current-induced spin polarization and the spin Hall effect are observed at temperatures from 10 to 295 K.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.97.126603