Abstract
We theoretically study the crossover between spin Hall effect and spin swapping, a recently predicted phenomenon that consists in the interchange between the current flow and its spin polarization directions [Lifshits and Dyakonov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 186601 (2009)]. Using a tight-binding model with spin-orbit coupled disorder, spin Hall effect, spin relaxation and spin swapping are treated on equal footing. We demonstrate that spin Hall effect and spin swapping present very different dependences as a function of the spin-orbit coupling and disorder strengths. As a consequence, we show that spin swapping may even exceed spin Hall effect. Three set-ups are proposed for the experimental observation of the spin swapping effect in metals.
Original language | English (US) |
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Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2013 |