Kondo physics in non-local metallic spin transport devices

L. O'Brien; M. J. Erickson; D. Spivak; H. Ambaye; R. J. Goyette; V. Lauter; P. A. Crowell; C. Leighton

doi:10.1038/ncomms4927

Kondo physics in non-local metallic spin transport devices

L. O'Brien, M. J. Erickson, D. Spivak, H. Ambaye, R. J. Goyette, V. Lauter, P. A. Crowell, C. Leighton

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49 Scopus citations

Abstract

The non-local spin-valve is pivotal in spintronics, enabling separation of charge and spin currents, disruptive potential applications and the study of pressing problems in the physics of spin injection and relaxation. Primary among these problems is the perplexing non-monotonicity in the temperature-dependent spin accumulation in non-local ferromagnetic/non-magnetic metal structures, where the spin signal decreases at low temperatures. Here we show that this effect is strongly correlated with the ability of the ferromagnetic to form dilute local magnetic moments in the NM. This we achieve by studying a significantly expanded range of ferromagnetic/non-magnetic combinations. We argue that local moments, formed by ferromagnetic/non-magnetic interdiffusion, suppress the injected spin polarization and diffusion length via a manifestation of the Kondo effect, thus explaining all observations. We further show that this suppression can be completely quenched, even at interfaces that are highly susceptible to the effect, by insertion of a thin non-moment-supporting interlayer.

Original language	English
Article number	3927
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4927
State	Published - May 29 2014

Funding

This project was funded by the NSF MRSEC under award DMR-0819885 and a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Programme (project no. 299376). Research at the ORNL Spallation Neutron Source ORNL was sponsored by the Scientific User Facilities Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, US Department of Energy. ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy. Parts of this work were carried out in the Characterization Facility, University of Minnesota, which receives partial support from NSF through the MRSEC program. Parts of this work were carried out in the Minnesota Nano Center, which receives partial support from the NSF through the NNIN program.

Funders	Funder number
Scientific User Facilities Division
National Science Foundation
U.S. Department of Energy	DE-AC05-00OR22725
Basic Energy Sciences
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University	DMR-0819885
Seventh Framework Programme	299376

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abstract = "The non-local spin-valve is pivotal in spintronics, enabling separation of charge and spin currents, disruptive potential applications and the study of pressing problems in the physics of spin injection and relaxation. Primary among these problems is the perplexing non-monotonicity in the temperature-dependent spin accumulation in non-local ferromagnetic/non-magnetic metal structures, where the spin signal decreases at low temperatures. Here we show that this effect is strongly correlated with the ability of the ferromagnetic to form dilute local magnetic moments in the NM. This we achieve by studying a significantly expanded range of ferromagnetic/non-magnetic combinations. We argue that local moments, formed by ferromagnetic/non-magnetic interdiffusion, suppress the injected spin polarization and diffusion length via a manifestation of the Kondo effect, thus explaining all observations. We further show that this suppression can be completely quenched, even at interfaces that are highly susceptible to the effect, by insertion of a thin non-moment-supporting interlayer.",

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AU - O'Brien, L.

AU - Erickson, M. J.

AU - Spivak, D.

AU - Ambaye, H.

AU - Goyette, R. J.

AU - Lauter, V.

AU - Crowell, P. A.

AU - Leighton, C.

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AB - The non-local spin-valve is pivotal in spintronics, enabling separation of charge and spin currents, disruptive potential applications and the study of pressing problems in the physics of spin injection and relaxation. Primary among these problems is the perplexing non-monotonicity in the temperature-dependent spin accumulation in non-local ferromagnetic/non-magnetic metal structures, where the spin signal decreases at low temperatures. Here we show that this effect is strongly correlated with the ability of the ferromagnetic to form dilute local magnetic moments in the NM. This we achieve by studying a significantly expanded range of ferromagnetic/non-magnetic combinations. We argue that local moments, formed by ferromagnetic/non-magnetic interdiffusion, suppress the injected spin polarization and diffusion length via a manifestation of the Kondo effect, thus explaining all observations. We further show that this suppression can be completely quenched, even at interfaces that are highly susceptible to the effect, by insertion of a thin non-moment-supporting interlayer.

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Kondo physics in non-local metallic spin transport devices

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