Theory of spin loss at metallic interfaces

K. D. Belashchenko; Alexey A. Kovalev; M. Van Schilfgaarde

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.207204

Theory of spin loss at metallic interfaces

K. D. Belashchenko^*, Alexey A. Kovalev, M. Van Schilfgaarde

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

167 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Interfacial spin-flip scattering plays an important role in magnetoelectronic devices. Spin loss at metallic interfaces is usually quantified by matching the magnetoresistance data for multilayers to the Valet-Fert model, while treating each interface as a fictitious bulk layer whose thickness is δ times the spin-diffusion length. By employing the properly generalized circuit theory and the scattering matrix approaches, we derive the relation of the parameter δ to the spin-flip transmission and reflection probabilities at an individual interface. It is found that δ is proportional to the square root of the probability of spin-flip scattering. We calculate the spin-flip scattering probabilities for flat and rough Cu/Pd interfaces using the Landauer-Büttiker method based on the first-principles electronic structure and find δ to be in reasonable agreement with experiment.

Original language	English
Article number	207204
Number of pages	6
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Volume	117
Issue number	20
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.207204
Publication status	Published - 10 Nov 2016

Access to Document

10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.207204

Theory of spin loss_BELASHcHENKO_Accepted23September2016_GREEN AAMAccepted author manuscript, 1.41 MB

https://arxiv.org/abs/1603.04281

Cite this

@article{fdc7ce6693144fdf81ec1d61c6997b39,

title = "Theory of spin loss at metallic interfaces",

abstract = "Interfacial spin-flip scattering plays an important role in magnetoelectronic devices. Spin loss at metallic interfaces is usually quantified by matching the magnetoresistance data for multilayers to the Valet-Fert model, while treating each interface as a fictitious bulk layer whose thickness is δ times the spin-diffusion length. By employing the properly generalized circuit theory and the scattering matrix approaches, we derive the relation of the parameter δ to the spin-flip transmission and reflection probabilities at an individual interface. It is found that δ is proportional to the square root of the probability of spin-flip scattering. We calculate the spin-flip scattering probabilities for flat and rough Cu/Pd interfaces using the Landauer-B{\"u}ttiker method based on the first-principles electronic structure and find δ to be in reasonable agreement with experiment.",

author = "Belashchenko, {K. D.} and Kovalev, {Alexey A.} and {Van Schilfgaarde}, M.",

year = "2016",

month = nov,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.207204",

language = "English",

volume = "117",

journal = "Physical Review Letters",

issn = "0031-9007",

publisher = "American Physical Society",

number = "20",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Theory of spin loss at metallic interfaces

AU - Belashchenko, K. D.

AU - Kovalev, Alexey A.

AU - Van Schilfgaarde, M.

PY - 2016/11/10

Y1 - 2016/11/10

N2 - Interfacial spin-flip scattering plays an important role in magnetoelectronic devices. Spin loss at metallic interfaces is usually quantified by matching the magnetoresistance data for multilayers to the Valet-Fert model, while treating each interface as a fictitious bulk layer whose thickness is δ times the spin-diffusion length. By employing the properly generalized circuit theory and the scattering matrix approaches, we derive the relation of the parameter δ to the spin-flip transmission and reflection probabilities at an individual interface. It is found that δ is proportional to the square root of the probability of spin-flip scattering. We calculate the spin-flip scattering probabilities for flat and rough Cu/Pd interfaces using the Landauer-Büttiker method based on the first-principles electronic structure and find δ to be in reasonable agreement with experiment.

AB - Interfacial spin-flip scattering plays an important role in magnetoelectronic devices. Spin loss at metallic interfaces is usually quantified by matching the magnetoresistance data for multilayers to the Valet-Fert model, while treating each interface as a fictitious bulk layer whose thickness is δ times the spin-diffusion length. By employing the properly generalized circuit theory and the scattering matrix approaches, we derive the relation of the parameter δ to the spin-flip transmission and reflection probabilities at an individual interface. It is found that δ is proportional to the square root of the probability of spin-flip scattering. We calculate the spin-flip scattering probabilities for flat and rough Cu/Pd interfaces using the Landauer-Büttiker method based on the first-principles electronic structure and find δ to be in reasonable agreement with experiment.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84994885752&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.207204

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.207204

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84994885752

SN - 0031-9007

VL - 117

JO - Physical Review Letters

JF - Physical Review Letters

IS - 20

M1 - 207204

ER -

Theory of spin loss at metallic interfaces

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

CCP Flagship: Quasiparticle Self-Consistent GW for Next-Generation Electronic Structure

Cite this

Theory of spin loss at metallic interfaces

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

CCP Flagship: Quasiparticle Self-Consistent GW for Next-Generation Electronic Structure

Cite this