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Evidence for spin-to-charge conversion by Rashba coupling in metallic states at the Fe/Ge(111) interface

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  • S. Oyarzún

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC
    CEDENNA, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH))

  • A. K. Nandy

    (Peter Grünberg Institute and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich and JARA)

  • F. Rortais

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC)

  • J.-C. Rojas-Sánchez

    (Unité Mixte de Physique, CNRS, Thales, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay)

  • M.-T. Dau

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC)

  • P. Noël

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC)

  • P. Laczkowski

    (Unité Mixte de Physique, CNRS, Thales, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay)

  • S. Pouget

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC)

  • H. Okuno

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC)

  • L. Vila

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC)

  • C. Vergnaud

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC)

  • C. Beigné

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC)

  • A. Marty

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC)

  • J.-P. Attané

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC)

  • S. Gambarelli

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC)

  • J.-M. George

    (Unité Mixte de Physique, CNRS, Thales, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay)

  • H. Jaffrès

    (Unité Mixte de Physique, CNRS, Thales, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay)

  • S. Blügel

    (Peter Grünberg Institute and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich and JARA)

  • M. Jamet

    (Institut des Nanosciences et l'Energie Atomique et Cryogénie, INAC, Commissariat á aux Energies Alternatives-Univ. Grenoble Alpes
    CEA, INAC)

Abstract

The spin–orbit coupling relating the electron spin and momentum allows for spin generation, detection and manipulation. It thus fulfils the three basic functions of the spin field-effect transistor. However, the spin Hall effect in bulk germanium is too weak to produce spin currents, whereas large Rashba effect at Ge(111) surfaces covered with heavy metals could generate spin-polarized currents. The Rashba spin splitting can actually be as large as hundreds of meV. Here we show a giant spin-to-charge conversion in metallic states at the Fe/Ge(111) interface due to the Rashba coupling. We generate very large charge currents by direct spin pumping into the interface states from 20 K to room temperature. The presence of these metallic states at the Fe/Ge(111) interface is demonstrated by first-principles electronic structure calculations. By this, we demonstrate how to take advantage of the spin–orbit coupling for the development of the spin field-effect transistor.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Oyarzún & A. K. Nandy & F. Rortais & J.-C. Rojas-Sánchez & M.-T. Dau & P. Noël & P. Laczkowski & S. Pouget & H. Okuno & L. Vila & C. Vergnaud & C. Beigné & A. Marty & J.-P. Attané & S. Gambarelli &, 2016. "Evidence for spin-to-charge conversion by Rashba coupling in metallic states at the Fe/Ge(111) interface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13857
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13857
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